Future cars

The fifth-abilities Hyundai Tucson mid-dimension SUV is readying for open, seemingly later this year.

Whereas undergoing sizzling weather durability testing in the Victorian High Country, Chasing Vehicles noticed a camouflaged model of the unique Tucson and an up so a long way Santa Fe SUV.

The Tucson is due for a brand unique abilities by subsequent year, having launched globally in 2021 and coming in for a facelift in 2024. We rely on the camouflaged Tucson to destroy quilt in production guise in slack 2026 or early 2027.

This automobile is an unprecedented extra dramatic commerce than the increased Santa Fe, being a brand unique abilities mannequin that wants to compete with Toyota’s refreshed RAV4, the incoming Mazda CX-5 and a host of unique names from China comparable to the BYD Sealion 6.

Like the Santa Fe, the overview automobile’s amount plate carries a affirmation it’s the unique ‘NX5’ Tucson (one of the up-to-date automobile’s code is ‘NX4’) and that it weighs 1797kg.

There modified into as soon as extra conceal obstructing the Tucson’s body traces, in conjunction with what perceived to be size gear on the rear window. The Tucson also has an unfinished-attempting employ protruding from the rear bumper.

Tremendous, graceful alloy wheels counsel the mannequin testing is a excessive-smooth example.

It is a transparent departure from the rounded, organic shapes of one of the up-to-date Tucson and a step in direction of squarer, bluffer styling following the hydrogen gasoline cell (FCEV) powered Nexo‘s produce language.

Under, the fifth-abilities Tucson will debut a brand unique, software program-defined architecture referred to as Pleos OS, primarily based fully on KoreanCarBlog, which will seemingly spy extra great processing at some stage in the cabin.

What’s no longer sure is if the unique Tucson will seemingly be made in brief and lengthy wheelbase guises for more than just a few markets. European-delivered Tucson objects measure 4500mm lengthy whereas Australian and North American examples are currently 4650mm from tip to tail.

The Tucson currently comes with a 2.0L four-cylinder petrol in inappropriate grades although a smartly-liked hybrid model, making 172kW, will seemingly be on hand. Quiz the electrified powertrain to continue in the unique automobile.

In in a abroad country markets the Tucson is equipped with a slip-in hybrid that might be on the playing cards for Australia. The expend of a little-ish 13.8kWh battery, North American-market Tucson PHEVs are rated to go about 50km on electric vitality in EPA testing.

If Hyundai is able to catch the worth correct, a slip-in hybrid Tucson might seemingly possibly be advantageous below Original Vehicle Emissions Requirements (NVES) to boot to providing a rival for the rising different of PHEV family SUVs, in conjunction with the Geely Starray EM-i, BYD Sealion 6, Mitsubishi Outlander and further.

We rely on the unique Hyundai Tucson to destroy quilt later in 2026.

Why is Hyundai testing cars in Australia?

Hyundai, along with linked companies Kia and Genesis, possess lengthy viewed impress in Australian accelerate and coping with tuning for their autos, however this is no longer that.

As an different, there is currently a expeditiously of 20 Hyundai, Kia and Genesis autos in Australia for summer season durability testing.

Chasing Vehicles understands the mix of excessive altitude and sizzling weather found in the Victorian alpine achieve of dwelling in summer season is of explicit ardour to Korean engineers when it involves turbo petrol engines.

Moreover, the Australian time zones line up better with South Korea than those in the US.

Hyundai is readying a facelifted Santa Fe seven-seat SUV and new-expertise Tucson mid-dimension SUV for originate, presumably later this year.

Chasing Vehicles spotted camouflaged versions of the new Tucson and Santa Fe while the pair were present process sizzling weather sturdiness making an strive out in the Victorian High Nation.

While the Hyundai Santa Fe has carried out outstandingly in freeway tests and took house the accumulate at Chasing Vehicles automobile of the year, no longer all is neatly for the seven-seater.

In Australia, Hyundai’s new model was once outsold by the older and smaller Kia Sorento as neatly as the Toyota Kluger in 2025. As proper kind as the new automobile is, right here and in a foreign country its controversial styling appears to be like to be hurting its attraction.

What’s altering for the 2027 Hyundai Santa Fe?

We know the pictured automobile is an updated Santa Fe for a number of reasons. The acquainted alloy wheels have Hyundai’s ‘H’ trademarks on the centre caps and the number plate unearths this automobile is a Hyundai ‘MX5’ evaluate automobile, weighing 1906kg and registered from 14 Jan 2026.

Unheard of of what’s beneath the metal will remain, including in style proportions with the equal A-pillar and roof-line and carryover mirrors.

Korean sources recommend it will likely be belief to be one of many most radical mid-existence updates and the heavy disguise appears to narrate this. There’s padding and shaded masking the bonnet, lights, rear discontinuance and even the doorways, which is strange for a mid-existence exchange.

Depend on the Santa Fe to chase in direction of Hyundai’s ‘Art work of Steel’ kind language, as shown on the boxy Nexo hydrogen gasoline cell EV.

What we will likely be conscious are what appear to be all-new lighting particulars, including headlights mounted manner out on the facet fancy a Kia Tasman — and losing their H-formed LEDs — and original, vertically-organized hind lights.

This will likely be to tackle the most controversial feature of the present, those low-mounted, horizontal hind lights.

We did not obtain a conclude witness inside, nonetheless previous survey shots have shown a new, squared-off steering wheel and cloak structure in the entrance of Hyundai’s seven seater.

It was once evident the Santa Fe we observed was once both hybrid, or a PHEV, as it took off on electrical energy before the petrol engine might perchance perchance well also be heard up the steep hill.

There are no main changes anticipated beneath the bonnet for the Santa Fe, with the 1.6-litre four-cylinder-based mostly completely hybrid producing 172kW and 367Nm more likely to continue.

Petrol autos are anticipated to ditch the eight-bustle dual-grab for a torque converter automatic based mostly completely on buyer concepts.

The brand new-witness Santa Fe is anticipated to conclude for the 2027 model year, so expect a cloak in direction of the tip of this year.

Why is Hyundai making an strive out autos in Australia?

Hyundai, alongside with connected companies Kia and Genesis, have lengthy seen worth in Australian lunge and handling tuning for their autos, nonetheless right here’s no longer that.

As an alternative, there might perchance be at cloak a hasty of 20 Hyundai, Kia and Genesis autos in Australia for summer season sturdiness making an strive out.

Chasing Vehicles understands the mix of high altitude and sizzling weather cloak in the Victorian alpine pickle in summer season is of particular ardour to Korean engineers in terms of turbo petrol engines.

Additionally, the Australian time zone lines up better with South Korea than, remark, Loss of life Valley in California, USA.

The fifth-generation Highlander (known in the neighborhood as Kluger) has broken veil in North America this day, sporting a familiar Toyota namesake with now not-so-familiar electric powertrains.

Scheduled to be assembled and bought in the US from 2027, the Highlander EV (referred to hereafter because the Kluger) will originate in two trim grades: a front- or all-wheel pushed gross model XLE and a fluctuate-topping all-wheel-pressure (AWD) Small.

The electrical Kluger XLE will characteristic a 77.0kWh high-voltage battery, or non-compulsory 95.8kWh battery irregular to AWD guise. Kluger Small variants will handiest be accessible in 95.8kWh/AWD configuration.

All-wheel-pressure Kluger EV variants form 252kW/438Nm, while front-drivers form 165kW/269Nm. AWD models moreover operate a multi-terrain pressure-mode selector and hill descent build watch over, while front-drivers pass over out.

EV fluctuate is earmarked at 462km for FWD/77.0kWh models, 435km for AWD/77.0kWh models, and 515km for AWD/95.8kWh models. DC Charging is declared to steal half-hour from 10-80 percent. No fluctuate-dependent attempting out long-established has been equipped alongside Toyota’s figures.

There is currently no discover of the Kluger EV debuting in the neighborhood. In Australia, the flagship fourth-generation Kluger is nearing 5 years feeble, with out a change — EV or otherwise — in the final public discover.

Chasing Cars has approached Toyota Australia for comment, and can mild update this myth when more recordsdata is accessible.

For now, the US-market irregular Kluger EV measures 5050mm lengthy (up 84mm over outdated generation), 1989mm large (up 59mm), and 1709mm gargantuan (down 46mm), meaning the Kluger EV’s external dimensions are a akin to our native market Kia EV9.

Wheelbase will enhance by 201mm, now measuring 3051mm total, thanks to a bespoke, lengthened TNGA-Good ample platform — a capable architecture shared by the likes of Camry and RAV4.

Show Toyota’s sole EV offering in Australia — the bZ4X — uses a more EV-oriented e-TNGA platform.

Toyota’s exhaust of the TNGA-Good ample platform handiest furthers hypothesis that hybrid and roam-in hybrid fifth-generation Kluger variants might likely perhaps debut — the platform already helps HEV and PHEV drivetrains in the half of-measurement smaller next-gen RAV4, slated to advance in the neighborhood in March.

Toyota has equipped no comment on this prospect, but has debuted a multi-powertrain Lexus ES300 and next-generation Corolla. Each models fragment TNGA platform underpinnings.

Pricing for the Toyota Kluger EV has now not but been distinct, but is expected in the neighborhood to fall in the realm of $100,000 earlier than on-avenue charges. This would possibly likely perhaps predominantly rival the $97,000 Kia EV9, $124,990 Volvo EX90, and $119,750 Hyundai Ioniq 9.

2027 Toyota Kluger Electrical styling and tools

Styling for the Kluger EV is a akin to the newly released Toyota Hilux, soon-to-originate RAV4, and mainstay Camry. The impact facets slim, physique-width strip LED lighting on the front and rear of the vehicle, moving, boxy physique traces, and aerodynamic touches admire flush door handles and slippery front conclude.

Aerodynamic wheels and pronounced air-cooling vents round out a futuristic-fashion physique.

Internal, the Highlander will provide a preference of six or seven seats, unfold across three rows. The centrepiece of the dashboard is a 14-flow central touchscreen, placed next to a 12.3-flow digital instrument cluster.

Ambient lighting is strewn throughout the cabin, as are USB-C chargers for all rows, while both grades moreover operate a roof-measurement panoramic sunroof.

Commonplace tools on the Kluger EV XLE entails:

• Corpulent-width LED DRL
• Entrance acoustic glass
• 19-flow aero-wheels
• Semi-flush digital door handles
• 14-flow touchscreen
• Six-speaker audio machine
• 12.3-flow digital gauge cluster
• 64-coloration customizable ambient lighting
• SofTex-trimmed seating
• Heated front seats and steerage wheel
• 11-kW onboard AC charger

Coming into into the Kluger EV Small grants:

• Side detect mirrors with memory and reverse tilt characteristic
• Heads-up say
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated 2nd row seats
• Rear sunshades
• Additional driver help including Evolved Park, Traffic Jam Support, Panoramic Gape Computer screen, Lane Switch Support, and Entrance Putrid Traffic Alert

Stand-out non-compulsory extras across both trim grades contain:

• Bench seating (XLE AWD handiest)
• Panoramic roof (All grades)
• JBL 12-speaker sound-machine with subwoofer and amplifier (XLE AWD and Small)
• Two-tone paint (Small)
• 22-flow wheels (Small)

All recordsdata acknowledged above regarding a fifth-generation Kluger EV applies exclusively in reference to the US-market Highlander EV.

A new era is upon Ferrari.

The Luce — previously is believed as the ‘Elettrica’ —  is to be unveiled later this year as Ferrari’s first battery-electrical automobile, but nowadays we get a gaze into its groundbreaking controls, which focal point on physical, in wish to touchscreen, interplay.

Led by Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari construct teamed up with Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson of Apple construct reputation for the Luce’s innovative cabin.

Not only is it a departure from Ferrari’s fresh touch-heavy interactions in the Purosangue and 12Cilindri, it’s also a clap back at EV-makers resembling Tesla who count so heavily on touchscreens.

Talking to British publication Autocar, Ive discussed how touch-only in a automobile cabin is now not the means forward “as a end result of it requires you to leer” away.

“This knowing that since the vitality supply is electrical the interface will appreciate to be digital is nonsense… That is now not life like to me the least bit”, Ive told Autocar.

Pulling back to the fundamentals, the group identified two streams: input from the controls, and output from the displays. The aim turn out to be as soon as to declutter the cabin for a more individual-pleasant and special abilities — the close end result’s something comparatively gorgeous.

The Luce’s three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel appears nearly unburdened with switches, partially due to its visually-gentle CNC-machined recycled aluminium construction.

Ferrari keeps indicators as buttons on the spokes, but the ‘e-manettino’ switches are housed in separate modules nearly aftermarket in their integration. These adjust islands characteristic aluminium-modified into dials for settings together with vitality stage, power modes, and more.

There are prolonged paddles anchored in the back of the wheel of the all-electrical Luce. It isn’t obvious what their feature is yet, but we’re told they’ll plot up torque — presumably in acceleration and deceleration.

It’s the trick Ferrari has pulled with the dials that’s most spectacular, although. The instrument binnacle appears to be like, at the origin leer, nearly analogue but it is a 12.5-plod digital present.

The spend of two layers of extremely-thin Samsung screens, the Luce’s dials appear to appreciate depth, nearly three-dimensional savor gauges. Font choices focal point on legibility and the displays are impressed by mid-century Jaeger and Veglia devices, says Ferrari.

This leer to the past is all “about lowering cognitive load for the motive force”, basically based on the marque.

There’s soundless a touchscreen, obviously, but the 10.0-plod unit ought now to now not dominate the cabin. It shall be rotated between driver and passenger manually, and accommodates a wrist relaxation.

That comprises in the head corner of the iPad-savor conceal is a ‘multigraph’, with physical, consuming palms, it has numerous capabilities and anchors the Luce to Ferrari’s analogue past.

With out a V12, Ferrari has looked in other places in an effort to add theatre, together with with a color-altering physical key, glass tools selector, and a helicopter-impressed delivery adjust plot that would perchance perhaps require the motive force to pull a roof-mounted switch.

Consideration to ingredient in relation to theatre and interplay shall be foremost if Ferrari’s first all-electrical model is to be triumphant. The excessive-utilizing Purosangue has finished successfully because the Italian marque’s first ‘SUV’, but ditching a combustion engine is an altogether greater possibility.

Ferrari will ultimately present the Luce in Also can merely 2026, at which point it’s anticipated to debut with four electrical motors, over 750kW, all-wheel power and though-provoking suspension.

Few newly launched autos own mercurial gained repute rather love the BYD Shark 6, which has launched accurate into a nigh-unpenetrable ute culture, apparently breaking the mildew and appearing to discipline a brand new one.

However the Shark 6 isn’t but the ute that can construct all things for all other folk. And as BYD looks to crawl more sales in 2026, the Chinese marque will toughen its more and more widespread pickup to originate it larger suited and more appealing to a broader fluctuate of shoppers.

As BYD Australia expands its off-avenue choices in 2026 with its Denza B5 and B8 SUVs, Chasing Vehicles sat down with chief working officer, Stephen Collins, at the new gadgets’ native begin to chat about its only-promoting mannequin.

Valid particulars will can be found in the subsequent few months, however what Collins shared, combined with previous experiences, paints an exhilarating image for what’s to come help for the Shark 6. Here’s all the pieces we know about the drawing shut upgrades to the ute fluctuate.

Listed here:

• When it arrives
• Grades and body kinds
• Pricing adjustments
• Towing and payload
• Off-avenue skill
• Ev riding fluctuate

When will the new BYD Shark 6 arrive?

Legit particulars for the upgraded Shark 6 will likely be introduced in the subsequent few months, with the updated mannequin expected to accelerate on sale round mid-year, or a shrimp little bit of later.

Are more BYD Shark 6 grades and body kinds coming?

Positive, most no doubt.

In outlining BYD Australia’s year forward in 2026, Collins made it determined that mercurial sales will likely be a centered role for the importer’s sales growth. Naturally, a cab-chassis version of the Shark 6 would swimsuit this aim.

This would give tradies and varied commercial operators the flexibility to customize their Shark 6 for the responsibilities required, without working into any problems with the factory car warranty.

It’s that it is most likely you’ll imagine we could well also look a more inside your means, de-specced ‘Foremost’ version of the Shark – on condition that the most as a lot as date ‘Top price’ packs a prolonged gear list – along with a brand new flagship grade with lifted off-avenue suspension, bigger tyres as regular and varied larger mechanical hardware. More on that below.

Will the BYD Shark 6 tag amplify in Australia?

The absolute best merchandise on the list of doable adjustments for the Shark 6 is the one thing that obtained’t: pricing. At least that’s the advice per BYD Australia.

Priced at $57,900 before on-roads since begin in early 2025 (though usually more cost-effective attributable to sales gives), the sole Top price grade is fiercely tag-aggressive in section, pondering its regular-match hasten-in hybrid drivetrain. Here’s a key promoting level BYD is alive to to protect.

“What we wish to construct is protect the value for money of Shark, we don’t deserve to deserve to reposition it when it involves tag, so tag for us with Shark is extremely fundamental”, Collins said.

“Our technique is to tag properly and value aggressively, however it without a doubt’s also to protect that integrity because we know going forward that from a residual standpoint, that’s true so, so severe. We don’t deserve to be adjusting costs your complete time.”

That said, it’s laborious to accelerate attempting upgrades being added for free and if new grades, which could be more pricey and/or succesful, are added to the lineup. We’d seek data from costs to climb no now not as a lot as a shrimp little bit of, with any new grades above the Top price potentially closing in on the $70,000 fluctuate.

Will the BYD Shark 6’s towing and payload skill amplify?

A crawl from a 2500kg towing skill to the enterprise regular 3500kg has already been confirmed by BYD senior administration.

It’s expected that payload will also amplify along with the added towing skill. Currently sitting at 790kg, payload is anticipated to rise to a level more on par with rival twin cabs, which could be in overall rated between 930kg and 1050kg.

To meet these figures, the Shark will likely need balance upgrades along with doable adjustments to its powertrain.

WIll the BYD Shark 6 red meat up its off-avenue skill?

The Shark 6 sits on the identical platform because the Denza B5 which has true been introduced to Australia.

It’s fundamental to present the Shark 6 is ‘AWD’ now not ‘4×4’, providing no low-fluctuate functionality or locking differentials. At uncover, the Shark 6 is fully reliant on an digital traction administration machine, which has proven to be poorly calibrated for off-avenue responsibilities in attempting out.

The prolonged ride Shark 6 could well also adopt the B5’s DMO drivetrain, which steps up energy outputs from 321kW/650Nm to 425kW/760Nm and aspects locking differentials front and rear, along with a two-bustle rear transmission with a low-fluctuate recede gear.

BYD now has a personnel of five beefy-time engineering workers essentially essentially essentially based in Australia, working in conjunction with two dedicated groups help in China. Collectively, as well they are able to fair work to red meat up the calibration of the off-avenue tech, as well to sort out points with the hasten and handling that has been illustrious in attempting out by Chasing Vehicles and an expansion of others.

Will the BYD Shark 6 gather more electrical riding fluctuate?

With this new drivetrain comes a doable step up in riding fluctuate, with the most as a lot as date B8 SUV sporting a a shrimp little bit of larger 36.8kWh battery (versus 29.5kWh) – however an very excellent larger version can be on the horizon.

China’s motoring press is reporting the growth of a brand new machine identified as DM-i 6.0, which aspects 900V architecture the exhaust of a brand new LFP battery to construct an electrical riding fluctuate as a lot as 300km.

Admittedly, this narrate could well be per the rather lenient China Light-accountability Test Cycle (CLTC), however this would detached be a famous boost in riding fluctuate, and clearly, energy which could be utilised by the V2L machine.

GWM has confirmed two stride-in hybrid variants of its Tank 300 medium off-street SUV, which is in a position to launch in Australia with a starting ticket of $55,990 power-away.

The Chinese automaker will first debut the vary-topping ‘Ultra’ grade in early March, adopted by the much less dear ‘Lux’ in early April. The units accumulate dinky-time launch costs of $59,990 and $55,990 power-away, respectively.

Dart-in hybrid medium SUVs are extra bizarre-role now than ever prior to in Australia, with the market juggling the longstanding $63,790 Mitsubishi Outlander, and recent blood $42,990 BYD Sealion 6 and $37,990 Chery Tiggo 7. Prices confirmed are prior to on-street costs.

Nonetheless GWM’s PHEV-powered Tank 300 uniquely promises off-street prowess, with locking differentials and a ladder-body chassis — which scheme its closest rival would possibly perhaps well be the Denza B5 (from $74,990), or non-hybrids akin to the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (from $73,200) and Jeep Wrangler (from $81,990).

Each of the inbound Tank 300 variants function employ of a ‘Hi4-T PHEV’ powertrain, which combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 120kW electrical motor to function a combined output of 300kW and 750Nm.

Across each and each grades, the ‘Hi4-T’ system claims an EV-most effective driving vary of 105km and combined gas economic system establish of 1.9-litres/100km — each and each figures are held to optimistic NEDC testing requirements.

The PHEV system furthermore supports car-to-load as much as 6kW, with GWM claiming a DC charging time of 24 minutes to trip from 30 to 80-percent, peaking at 50kW.

Very like GWM’s Cannon Alpha PHEV and currently launched Tank 500 PHEV, the Tank 300 PHEV substances a mechanical four-wheel-power system paired with a stride-in hybrid powertrain.

The Tank 300 substances a 9-tempo computerized, low-vary, entrance and rear locking differentials, and a three-tonne braked towing ability. Terrain-issue power modes are expected, nonetheless no longer yet confirmed.

If PHEV variants are to replicate the specs of petrol, diesel, and plugless hybrid counterparts, the Tank 300 Lux PHEV will probably encompass function:

• 17-pace alloy wheels
• Locking rear differential
• Two-half underbody guard
• Tank-flip function
• LED headlights and back lights
• Sunroof
• Auto-folding, heated soar mirrors
• Comfort-Tek (vinyl) upholstery
• Microfibre leather guidance wheel
• 12.3-pace digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-pace touchscreen
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Nine-speaker stereo
• Ambient internal lights (seven colours)
• Digital radio
• 360-level camera, plus entrance and rear parking sensors

While coming into into the Tank 300 Ultra PHEV would grant:

• Higher 18-pace alloys
• Locking entrance differential
• Three-half underbody guard
• Nappa leather upholstery
• 12-scheme power-adjustable driver’s seat with rub down
• Heated and cooled entrance seats
• Heated guidance wheel in leather
• Nine-speaker Infinity top payment stereo
• Ambient internal lights (64 colours)
• 220-volt power outlet in the boot
• Computerized parking function with reverse monitoring

Extra facts for the Tank 300 PHEV will be confirmed nearer to its launch in March.

GWM Tank 300 2026: costs in Australia

All costs listed are power-away.

• Lux Diesel: $47,990
• Ultra Petrol: $49,990
• Ultra Diesel: $51,990
• Ultra HEV: $55,990
• Lux PHEV: $55,990
• Ultra PHEV: $59,990

The 2nd-technology Kia Seltos will very best be sold in Australia with hybrid engines in a pass designed to every enchantment to altering buyer tastes and follow now not easy emissions regulations.

“In the 2nd half of the year we [will launch] the all-new Seltos — it’s a important automobile for us,” Kia Australia long-established supervisor of product planning Roland Rivero quick Chasing Autos.

“We can offer it in hybrid very best, as front-wheel power and all-wheel power.”

The pattern will explore the opposite Seltos engines — a mark-leading petrol engine and a top rate turbo petrol option — scrapped for Australia.

Specs for the brand new Seltos hybrid hang now not yet been confirmed by Kia nonetheless the dinky SUV is anticipated to make use of a variant of the petrol-electrical powertrain viewed in its cousin automobile, the Hyundai Kona.

The Kona hybrid’s powertrain pairs a 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder engine with an electrical motor to salvage a mixed energy and torque outputs of 104kW and 265Nm.

Rivero’s affirmation that the Seltos hybrid will approach with the option of all-wheel power opens the door for more energy in that variant, nonetheless.

The pass will doubtless result in modest mark will increase to the Seltos to legend for the extra expense of the hybrid system.

The decision to pass to a hybrid-very best approach for Seltos will result in drastic gas economic system enhancements for the mannequin.

Currently, the most frugal Seltos 2.0-litre petrol is rated to be pleased 6.9L/100km.

Nonetheless the Hyundai Kona hybrid that can doubtless donate its powertrain drinks appropriate 3.9L/100km — representing a 43 p.c enchancment in efficiency.

For an Australian driving 15,000km per year that represents a gas saving of about $900 yearly, which must restful partly offset anticipated hang mark will increase in time.

Most importantly, the Kona hybrid produces emissions of appropriate 88g/km of CO2, which makes it compliant with Australia’s now not easy Recent Automobile Emissions Celebrated (NVES) regulations unless the tip of 2027.

After that point, jog-in hybrid or battery electrical powertrains will successfully be important for compliance.

Kia executives confirmed that the NVES procedure used to be a deciding facet in inspiring the Seltos to hybrid engines very best.

“It’s necessary to. It is the NVES actuality — nonetheless what we’re finding is that Australians are quite elated to impress the swap to hybrid. They are doing it with Toyota and with Hyundai product.

“We’re confident they’ll manufacture it with Kia product as correctly.”

In future, more Kia product lines that at indicate offer a petrol engine will most doubtless be switched to an all-hybrid lineup.

“It is rather doubtless that there will most doubtless be other pudgy mannequin adjustments [to hybrid-only engines] to practice Seltos within the arriving years,” acknowledged Rivero.

A senior Kia executive has confirmed that the South Korean imprint is working on original merchandise that can half the physique-on-physique platform of the Tasman ute. The in all probability of these merchandise is an SUV version of the Tasman.

“The sweetness is that the [Tasman] platform goes to web a great deal of mileage,” Kia Australia general manager of product planning Roland Rivero educated Chasing Vehicles.

“It will fabricate its technique into diversified merchandise moreover. Whenever you already possess a platform which that you just can perhaps perhaps additionally possess invested in, the skill to develop upon it’s plenty more straightforward than starting up from scratch.

“The flexibility to turn around a [Tasman] SUV is plenty sooner.”

It’s miles general for a ute mannequin to be complemented by a rugged 4wd sibling, with the SUV mannequin most regularly providing a heavy-duty family automobile or hasty wagon possibility in Australia.

For rival imprint Ford, pairing the Ranger ute (56,555 sales in 2025) with the Everest SUV (26,161 sales in 2025) has been a business success that Kia would love to replicate.

“The platform is there. A lot love Ranger to Everest, it’s miles no longer a humungous job to adopt and regulate the [Tasman] physique,” talked about Rivero.

Kia engineers working on the Tasman program are understood to possess also worked on a 4wd wagon sibling for some years, and the belief is now advancing in direction of manufacturing.

After we requested Rivero if he had seen the web of the Tasman SUV, he was as soon as coy.

“I could perhaps possess. [Tasman SUV] is being contemplated. Replacement stuff gets contemplated, correct love the Tasman Weekender [concept].”

The arrival of a hypothetical Tasman SUV would likely approach after the ute adopts a stage of electrification in compliance with Australia’s emissions guidelines.

Tasman ute devices are anticipated to get a forty eight-volt soft hybrid system for the four-cylinder diesel engine a while in 2027.

But a huge-skill engine fair like a V6 is no longer anticipated with Kia executives having over and over poured chilly water on the postulate of a V6 on emissions grounds.

To this level, Tasman sales possess fallen quick of expectations situation by Kia itself. In its first half-year on sale, 4196 devices of the controversially styled opt-up were delivered.

A target of 20,000 annual sales of the Tasman was as soon as given to media at the originate of the mannequin in August 2025.

Staunch over two years since the old-generation Amarok W-series disappeared from showrooms, Volkswagen’s halo twin-cab is determined to return in 2d-generation bag later this yr with an worthy extra holistic formulation to on-aspect road dynamic excellence courtesy of VW’s ongoing association with Melbourne-primarily based Walkinshaw Automobile Community.

Fully supported by head space of business serve in Wolfsburg, the tie up between Walkinshaw Automobile and Volkswagen Australia resulted in around 2600 units of the old W-series being produced at some stage in two years – a sizeable proportion of total gross sales given Amarok’s blended 2022/23 quantity became 11,140 units.

Amarok buyers have long favoured the excessive-spec, greater-priced variants within the line-up, whereas in accordance to Walkinshaw’s inner ownership surveys, W-series buyers payment total pricing only a cramped greater as a deciding ingredient for absorb than driver-serve programs, which payment practically zero. That formulation the motive force within the serve of the Walkinshaw Amarok is actually the motive force.

Walkinshaw says W-series buyers payment driving no doubt feel and efficiency/handling/suspension of equal importance to mechanical reliability and durability. And in a spend-case enviornment, by a long way the most traditional is in built-up areas or on highways, carrying largely the sincere driver nevertheless once in some time one or two passengers. This knowledge drove the engineering level of curiosity of W-series gen two.

First out of the blocks regularly is the W600 – a handling-centered, visually pumped construction of a V6-engined, mid-spec Amarok Style, deliver to launch within the midst of the third quarter of 2026.

This “driver’s ute” is predicted to fee somewhere between $90,000 and $100,000 earlier than on-aspect road charges, with the W600 acting to behave as a baseline for what the new-generation W-series will be going forward.

It’s generously equipped, visually spectacular and has obtained loads of attention to the suspension, nevertheless it retains the existing drivetrain tune, chassis electronics and braking kit – a minimal of for now – and doesn’t impact the Amarok’s towing or load-carrying capabilities.

First ingredient you opinion is the W600’s stance. That comprises broader wheelarch extensions to shroud new 20 x 10-lumber ‘shadow-chrome’ alloy wheels designed by damaged-down HSV stylist Julian Quincy, the W600’s rim edge sits 51mm extra out than that of the 18 x 7.5-lumber alloys from the Amarok Style, front and rear, and combines with phrase widths expanded by around 40mm.

The chosen wheels had been among extra than 30 designs produced by Quincy, so there’s already scope to visually differentiate any extra W-series variants with uniquely take care of wheels.

The W600’s are clad in 285/50R20 116W Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyres, in what is believed to be the important twin-cab application for this excessive-efficiency tread sample, despite the indisputable fact that we know from journey with old Amaroks on 20s that chubby rubber take care of this is in a position to presumably per chance have minimal impact on its off-aspect road prowess.

To visually unify the W600 fabricate, the shadow-chrome grey wheel colouring is repeated on the mirror caps and on the rear bumper garnish, in worthy the same arrangement as the dusky wheelarch extensions tie in with the dusky door handles. And there’s ethical Walkinshaw badging on the W600 – ‘W’ crests on the front mudguards and ‘Walkinshaw’ on the tailgate.

The W600 additionally functions electrically-deployable, matte-dusky aspect steps – developed by Walkinshaw namely for the new W-series – that additionally sport ‘W’ crests and which mechanically lengthen the moment a door is opened, then tuck away neatly once the doors are closed.

It’s a characteristic in total stumbled on on costly full-dimension automobiles akin to the Ram 1500 nevertheless is equipped on no other Amarok.

Below, the W600’s suspension tune revolves around bespoke Koni dampers which is also if truth be told painted Lapis Blue, orderly-shut to the Volkswagen R hero color. For the W-series, they’re a combination of Koni’s Raid off-aspect road dampers (for toughness) and its FSD (frequency selective dampers) which provide a stage of active high-tail alter to make stronger on-aspect road comfort.

The front coils and rear leaf springs appear to lift over from the Style, nevertheless there’s a new custom 22mm rear anti-roll bar (painted the same blue as the dampers) that is bolted on to the chassis by job of new cast-steel mounting points, whereas the Amarok’s front anti-roll bar has been removed.

As is in total the case with efficiency variants, the front sway bar became deemed pointless in reaching a cramped rear bias to its handling poise, minimising understeer and heightening steering precision with none impact on high-tail comfort.

The opposite valuable commerce below is the W600’s custom twin spend diagram, which snakes from the catalytic converter parallel to the driveline, then up and over the rear diff earlier than exiting within the serve of the motive force’s-aspect rear wheel. Capped with W-branded 3.5-lumber shadow-chrome strategies, the spend became routed to help away from the underslung rear spare when there’s an no longer important 20-lumber alloy fitted (an 18-lumber is customary).

The spend itself supposedly has minimal impact on the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6’s outputs – they tend to dwell 184kW and 600Nm (hence the W600 mannequin name) – nevertheless Walkinshaw claims that there’s an development in acoustics, which we’re but to study.

Interior, the W600 combines up-spec Amarok luxury with several remarkable functions. These encompass ‘W600’ flooring mats, ‘Walkinshaw’ steel sill plates, steel pedals with anti-stride rubber inserts, and an embroidered white ‘W’ crest on the front headrests.

The donor automobile already brings two-tone perforated Savona leather upholstery with white stitching, stitched padding at some stage within the door trims, armrests and dashboard top, and eight-speaker top class Harman Kardon audio with a subwoofer, so what you bag within the W600 is a flash Amarok spec with a full handling and visual kit.

What doesn’t commerce is the electronics, so there’s no dedicated Sports surroundings within the skill modes (it retains Unheard of, Eco, Slippery, Mud/Observe, Snow/Sand and Towing/Heavy Load), or remarkable wheel-mounted gearshift paddles, or upgraded braking. Per chance these changes might per chance presumably per chance occur in a capability S version, potentially with tweaked engine outputs.

Neither Volkswagen or Walkinshaw would verify if there’ll be extra W-series variants going forward – or if the ute will be exported to other markets take care of the old version – nevertheless given the immense funding by Walkinshaw Automobile Community to relocate to a gigantic new inexperienced-enviornment facility in Dandenong South, there’s if truth be told room to expand new-gen W-series quantity.

The all-new production line is 110m long, blended with the indisputable fact that the 2d-gen Amarok fabricate is barely two years’ historic when put next with over a decade for the old generation earlier than Walkinshaw labored some dynamic magic. That resulted in a 20-lumber-wheeled ‘works burger’ twin-cab that became equally as proficient off-aspect road because it became lapping a racetrack!

There’s already some pent-up demand for this domestically concocted beast. VW sellers started taking deposits arrangement serve, regardless of no concrete particulars having been published – sincere confirmation it became coming. And we aloof won’t know what the front-quit will spy take care of with out camo’ tape except mid-yr.

Nevertheless given the already spectacular driving dynamics of the customary Amarok Style V6, this rotund-looking out, alive to-handling, bitumen-biased Volkswagen-Walkinshaw twin-cab looks to be deliver to withhold, or even exceed, the spectacular capabilities of its properly-cherished W-series predecessor.

Sweden has actual shaken up the electrical car game, with Volvo revealing its novel, ground-up EX60 electrical mid-dimension SUV boasting an 810km WLTP riding fluctuate rating.

Anticipated to head on sale in Australia later in 2026 and be Volvo’s splendid volume car in 2027, the novel flagship EX60 P12 AWD components a huge 112kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack and reducing-edge ‘SPA3’ 800-volt architecture.

When it launches locally, the EX60 will beat the novel title-preserving Tesla Mannequin 3 LR RWD (750km) and its Polestar 3 Long Fluctuate RWD cousin’s 706km rating. It also edges-out key incoming rivals cherish the BMW iX3 (805km) and Mercedes-Benz GLC Electric (713km).

Volvo has offered a three-valid line-up globally and offered a brand novel naming convention. The entry-level ‘P6’ components a single rear-mounted electrical motor for 275kW/480Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds.

Its 80kWh usable battery prices at up to 320kW, taking 18 minutes to head from 10-80 percent on a 300kW DC pylon. The P10 AWD (375kW/710Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.6sec) manages the same price interval with its increased 91kWh battery thanks to 400kW peak charging.

As the fluctuate hero, the P12 AWD’s stats are even more impressive: peak vitality of 500kW and 790Nm torque figure rockets the circa 2.2-tonne EX60 from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

Delving deeper than sheer numbers, the EX60 launches Volvo/Geely community’s SPA3 architecture, appealing on from SPA2 considered below the Polestar 3 clean SUV.

Traits consist of cell-to-body battery integration and novel battery develop, unique electrical motors, plus ‘mega casting’, all said to pork up efficiency and decrease weight.

The EX60 is on the larger aspect for a mid-dimension SUV, measuring 4803mm lengthy, 1899mm huge, 1639mm huge and riding on a 2970mm wheelbase.

Former door handles had been abandoned, with the EX60 counting on ‘fins’ above the belt line to vitality-open the doorways, the same to the Zeekr 7X. Its slippery, swish entrance finish and sloping roof make contributions to a slither coefficient of 0.26.

Photos display veil a Unsuitable Country model of the EX60 with dark clastic wheel arch cladding, conserving a lengthy-working Volvo custom alive.

Inside, the EX60 follows Volvo’s minimal constructing with a clean central touchscreen mounted in landscape orientation and a slim digital driver’s display veil. The two-spoke steering wheel is squared off with shortcut buttons and there are switches to skip observe plus physical volume roller.

Powering the allegedly ‘no-trail’ multimedia machine are products from Google, NVIDIA and Qualcomm, including Google Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) for basically the most crucial time in a Volvo product.

Flagship devices would possibly perhaps perhaps be in the market with a 28-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound machine.

Volvo has dedicated to a 10-year battery warranty for the EX60 and Swedish clients salvage three years of free home charging. The firm guarantees this is also rolled out in other markets, however there’s no confirmation on how this can gain an impact on Australian clients yet

Pricing is yet to be confirmed for the Volvo EX60, that would possibly perhaps perhaps be sold alongside the updated XC60 petrol/hybrid medium SUV in Australia after Volvo walked-lend a hand its commitment to be fully electrical from this year.

Assign a question to the EX60 to birth up from spherical, or a itsy-bitsy above $100,000, with some overlap with the XC60. This would possibly perhaps occasionally wish to protect below the twin-motor EX90 clean SUV, which opens at $124,990, sooner than on-avenue prices.

Further reporting by Nathan Ponchard