Future cars

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

Mitsubishi World will debut its fifth-period Pajero good off-avenue SUV this year, in step with a contemporary myth out of Japan.

Talking at Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, Mitsubishi President Takao Kato triumphantly presented “We are able to originate a brand fresh spoiled-nation SUV in 2026!”, in step with BestCar.

The publication went on to verbalize that the Pajero would originate into the Japanese market in direction of the terminate of 2026.

Australia’s originate timing is seemingly to be very identical- if not earlier – to that of Japan, with executives from Mitsubishi’s native arm previously expressing eagerness to debut a brand fresh Pajero to help as a brand fresh hero model.

Just recently printed see photos of a Mitsubishi good SUV driving on Australian roads provides merit to this claim – when checking that automobile’s licence plate, it would possibly most likely seem that Mitsubishi has been in the community checking out a Pajero-esteem automobile for as lengthy as ten months.

Teasers and see pics hint the 2026 Pajero is just not far away

The suggestions follows a teaser video posted by Mitsubishi, which previews the appearance of a good off-avenue SUV starkly akin to speculative renders visualised by @Theottle.

The high roofline and venerable proportions of the unknown automobile are indicative to those of a manufacturing-ready automobile, comparatively than those of the recently printed Mitsubishi Elevance trot-in hybrid SUV.

The teased automobile also appears to be like to be the similar as a camouflaged Mitsubishi check automobile recently viewed driving on Australian roads. That automobile is comparable in size and share to the GWM Tank 500.

A return of the Mitsubishi Pajero would possibly possibly well leer the Three Diamond tag eventually grasp an answer to Toyota’s vastly successful Land Cruiser and Prado, as successfully as Nissan’s soon-to-be-up to date Y62 Patrol.

Triton to underpin the fresh Pajero

BestCar reports that famous esteem the Pajero Sport – which became once pulled from the Australian market in March closing year – the fifth period Pajero will seemingly be in step with the Triton twin-cab ute platform, sharing its ladder chassis, 150kW / 470Nm 2.4-litre turbo-diesel ‘four, and facets of its four-wheel pressure system.

Nonetheless unlike the Pajero Sport, which made use of an eight-plug computerized transmission, the fifth period Pajero will reportedly fragment the Triton’s six-plug venerable computerized.

Reports from Bestcar and Carscoops additionally counsel that the Pajero will seemingly be “ready for electrification”, with devoted bother at some level of the chassis for a hybrid drivetrain.

We quiz this drivetrain will seemingly be largely influenced – if not totally based fully upon – the recently up to date Outlander trot-in hybrid system, which blends a 2.4-litre petrol four cylinder, twin electric motors, and a 22.7kWh battery to assemble an EV driving vary of 86km (WLTP) and claimed combined gas consumption of 1.5L/100km.

We quiz the Pajero to measure-up a splash greater than the Triton’s 5320mm length, 1930mm width, and 1795mm height, while sharing its 3130mm wheelbase.

Pricing must align with the likes of the LandCruiser Prado, while final a step above center-spec Outlander units, and at a high top class to most Triton variants.

Hyundai has confirmed its Elexio medium SUV will arrive in Australia in early 2026 with an introductory price of $59,990 driveaway.

The associated price applies to the sole Elite grade equipped at start, powered by a 160kW/310Nm electrical motor on the entrance axle, drawing vitality from an 88kWh LFP battery to present an reliable fluctuate figure of 546km, per WLTP trying out requirements.

Sitting on a 400-volt model of the E-GMP platform, the battery can even be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in 38 minutes when the expend of a 350kW DC charger.

Going in Australia’s fiercely competitive fully electrical midsize SUV save, the sub-$60K Elixio undercuts the identical Kia EV5 Earth ($69K D/A in NSW) and the Tesla Model Y RWD ($64K D/A in NSW), though the BYD Sealion 7 Top rate asks for less ($59K D/A in NSW).

Importantly, the Exelio gives Australians a more pleasant entry price than the Korean-built Ioniq 5 by higher than $20K – though the gap has at the moment been reduced to $12K beneath a non eternal deal.

What does the Hyundai Exelio Elite encompass?

For now, the ideal option for Exelio is the mid-spec Elite grade in FWD guise, with out a confirmed plans to make bigger the fluctuate, though it’s anticipated that more sensible and expensive alternate solutions – along with AWD – will arrive at a later date.

Celebrated substances encompass a 27-scoot 4K display veil, leather-essentially essentially based mostly-accented tidy on the seats and the heated steering wheel, along with 14-device adjustability for the driver and four-device adjustment for the entrance passenger, with each entrance seats featuring heating and ventilation.

Other highlight interior substances encompass dual wi-fi mobile phone chargers, a heads-up display veil, six-speaker stereo, USB-C charging substances in some unspecified time in the future of, dual-zone local climate retain watch over and vehicle-to-load capacity.

Originate air, the Elexio is dressed in 20-scoot wheels, LED headlights/tail-lights and roof rails, with other essential substances in conjunction with acoustic movie on the windscreen, a heat pump for the battery and a vitality tailgate – which opens to expose a 506-litre boot capacity.

Australian-tuned suspension

In all likelihood in quest of to head off complications which have plagued the rival EV5 from sibling designate Kia, Hyundai says it has invested major time and energy into increasing the shuffle and coping with of the Elexio specifically for Aussie roads.

Hyundai says it evaluated a unfold of suspension substances in conjunction with springs, dampers and anti-roll bars to glean the finest match for our market to glean a combine to “finest swimsuit our enormous spectrum of uniquely strong street conditions”.

Working with an international crew that travelled to Sydney to work with Hyundai’s local shuffle and coping with specialists, the logo says the Exexio gives an “optimum mix of consolation, balance, refinement and coping with.”

Chasing Vehicles will present our reliable influence of these claims in an upcoming overview.

The sixth-period Toyota RAV4 will soon advance in Australia, with disclose books already originate, and a differ of deals in attain for the outgoing fifth-period model.

On the total, a brand new model altering-of-the-guard coincides with a dip in total sales, but this simply isn’t the case for Toyota’s evergreen midsizer, which closing month posted its second strongest sales end result for 2025, with a resolve of 6390 deliveries.

Speaking with Toyota Australia vice president sales, marketing and franchise operations Sean Hanley, it would seem the most contemporary period RAV4’s persevered primary sales is a correct indicator of success for the brand new-period.

“We’re after all good enough with the RAV4 end result attributable to there’s a chain of factors to bear in mind,” he informed Chasing Automobiles.

“That car is in scramble-out, we’ve presented the brand new model and its arrival time, and we’ve unfolded the disclose e book on the brand new model. To be still promoting the most contemporary period in these numbers is comparatively unbelievable.”

“Can have to that it is possible you’ll presumably have got in mind that you’re three-to-four months out from the open of a brand new car, that’s unbelievable… It presentations you the energy of the automobile and the strength of the product,” he concluded.

Unusual RAV4 to outsell Hilux, says Hanley

As the fifth-period Toyota RAV4 nears its retirement after a commendable six-365 days scramble, Toyota predicts that its new sixth-period model will now not most productive match its forebear’s success, this might possibly exceed it.

Speaking to Sean Hanley, Toyota claims that a rising sequence of contenders within the ute section will tedious the sales success of simplest-sellers Ford Ranger and Toyota’s cling Hilux, leaving the brand new RAV4 to quietly judge a simplest-promoting title.

“Can have to you watch on the ute section, which has got an increasing number of new avid gamers coming in, [it’s likely that] growth within the section is thanks to those new avid gamers and attributable to some are chasing onerous to attempt to preserve up volume,” acknowledged Hanley.

“[In either the first or second half of 2026], you’re gonna have various competitors taking part in for a noteworthy smaller fragment of the pie… So it makes correct sense to me that the rising SUV market might possibly presumably as a replace preserve your market-main car.”

“I’m quietly confident that [the new RAV4] might possibly presumably be the most productive seller for Toyota next 365 days, and set up some hope that it might possibly possibly presumably be the no 1 promoting car next 365 days,” acknowledged Hanley.

Whereas the Toyota Hilux is heading within the valid route to beat out the RAV4 in sales this 365 days, 2024’s sales results seen the RAV4 to advance support out on top with an stop-of-365 days sales results of 58,718 objects to the Hilux’s 53,499. Both automobiles trailed within the support of the Ford Ranger (62,593 unit sales).

Toyota’s product self belief isn’t runt to the RAV4 model itself. The new period car will introduce Toyota’s drag-in hybrid drivetrain for the first time, and it is primary that this powertrain is correctly got, particularly as rumours swirl concerning a future Hilux PHEV.

Toyota RAV4 a hybrid sales success account

Australia’s appetite for hybrid, drag-in hybrid and electrical energy is now not precisely easy to pin down. But Toyota’s comfortable transition capability to electrical energy by the plan of plugless hybrid drivetrains has shown to be efficient both here and foreign.

Almost half of of Toyota Australia’s new car sales have been hybrid this 365 days. The Toyota RAV4 is by some distance the nation’s most standard hybrid, and, slowly but indubitably, has now entirely phased out petrol-most productive variants with out detrimental attain.

The new period model will remain hybrid most productive, but can even introduce a drag-in hybrid variant so that you might possibly lift sales.

For a truly prolonged time, the Australian drag-in hybrid SUV section comprised correct two in actuality aggressive avid gamers – the Mitsubishi Outlander and BYD Sealion 6. Easiest now not too prolonged ago were these automobiles joined by the likes of Chery Tiggo 7, MG HS, Jaecoo J7, and soon, BYD Sealion 5.

Now, Toyota says the time is gorgeous to suppose in its cling drag-in heavyweight – possible as step one on a multi-model PHEV drag which is in a space to at some point encapsulate the Toyota Hilux.

“If primary most modern period [hybrid] demand is any indication, that it is possible you’ll presumably put a matter to that the [new RAV4] shall be deal better when it involves its demand – particularly the drag-in variant,” acknowledged a boisterous Sean Hanely.

When quizzed about striking forward a consistent supply of automobiles to enhance the RAV4’s sales predictions, Hanley gave the influence quietly confident.

“We’re going in with after all rock sincere [PHEV / hybrid] production plans, so we’re searching ahead to to be in a correct space,” he acknowledged.

Toyota has slashed the worth of its bZ4X electric medium SUV. It now starts extra than $10,000 much less dear, from $55,990 earlier than on-avenue charges.

All-wheel pressure pricing has moreover been cut, losing $6910 to inaugurate from $67,990.

Toyota’s updates prepare these made to the Subaru Solterra, the bZ4X’s twin under the skin, which now starts at $63,990 in AWD intellectual.

The associated charge updates will abet Toyota compete with present EV simplest-sellers including the Tesla Mannequin Y ($58,900) and Kia EV5 ($56,770).

Toyota’s basic set aside reductions to the bZ4X moreover abet to bridge the outlet between it and the vastly widespread Toyota RAV4 midsize SUV. The RAV4 will be updated in March subsequent year, and can inaugurate from $forty five,990 for the spoiled plugless hybrid or $58,840 for the spoiled lag-in.

That arrangement Toyota’s battery-electric mid-sizer will undercut its PHEV and flagship hybrid choices.

Pricing for the prolonged, extra significant bZ4X Touring, which is willing to are available Q2 2026, is easy but to be launched.

The bZ4X moreover receives updates to its EV machine. A extra significant 165kW/270Nm (up 15kW) electric motor is paired with a increased 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery (was 64kWh) to bring an improved using vary of 591km (was 436km) in entrance-wheel pressure guise.

For all-wheel pressure devices, most outputs develop to 252kW/438Nm (up 92kW), while using vary will improve to 517km WLTP (was 411km). It too advantages from a increased 74.7kWh battery.

Battery cell density, electric motor effectivity and regenerative braking energy moreover improves.

AC charging now peaks at 22kW, allowing a 10-p.c to full charge in around 3.5 hours, while a 150kW DC charge from 10 to 80-p.c takes around half-hour.

As earlier than, the bZ4X measures 4690mm prolonged, 1860mm wide, and 1650mm mammoth, using on a 2850mm wheelbase. The entrance-wheel pressure weighs 1960kg (kerb), while the all-wheel pressure weighs 2055kg.

Varied tweaks to the updated bZ4X FWD embody 18-depart aero wheels, roof rails, whisk shifters to adjust regenerative braking power, increased 14-depart infotainment cowl cowl (was 12.3 inches), two wi-fi machine chargers, heated steerage wheel, and increased safety equipment.

Equipment particular to the all-wheel pressure bZ4X involves 20-depart aero wheels, eight-arrangement energy adjustable heated entrance seats, and an increased 1500kg braked towing ability.

The bZ4X was Toyota’s slowest promoting SUV, managing real 858 deliveries as in contrast to the market-leading Tesla Mannequin Y (20,241) and Kia EV5 (4541).

Toyota bZ4X: prices in Australia

Prices listed are earlier than on-avenue charges.

• Entrance-wheel pressure: $55,990 (down $10,010)
• All-wheel pressure: $67,990 (down $6910)

Toyota Worldwide has this day revealed three mind-boggling V8 supercars, designated as GR GT, GR GT3, and Lexus LFA Belief to the enviornment stage, with staunch promise of a roadgoing version launch in due direction.

All three supercars are powered by a twin-turbocharged petrol V8, with the toll road-going GR GT furthermore gaining a hybrid map. Both the GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Belief remain as notice-handiest gadgets for now.

An in-depth admire at Toyota’s modular V8 engine platform may perchance well merely furthermore be considered right here.

Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said that the vehicles are a consequence of a imaginative and prescient to invent no more dumb cars, pointing out that he used to be disappointed by Lexus of The US’s popularity of “being dumb”.

“We weak the wretchedness and frustration from ‘Kuyashisa’ (which arrive humiliation or frustration) to focal level on growing ever better cars, from the GR 86, Supra, Yaris, and Corolla to now, with the GR GT and GT3,” he said.

Diminutive technical specification, rather then for the engine, is identified for Toyota’s three belief vehicles. We wait for a different of automated or handbook transmission paired with rear-wheel drive – a requirement for GT3 racing guidelines.

What is identified presently is that the vehicles will seemingly be constructed on a rigid aluminium spaceframe. Tune-focused variations already sport a apparently total inner, placeholder or otherwise, where the roadgoing GT may perchance well merely furthermore be viewed wearing crimson bucket seats and door-playing cards.

Finish followers of Toyota will show that right here isn’t very any longer the first time the GR GT and GT3 had been on show, first performing in hide using at the celebrated Goodwood Competition of Tempo. These vehicles sported identical notice-prepared interiors with wrap-round Recaro buckets.

Inaugurate air, all three vehicles are visually identical, wearing huge bonnet vents, carbon-fibre roof, a low-slung aerodynamic silhouette, slender LED brightwork, an LFA-impressed angular rear conclude, and several other brake-cooling ducts. The GR GT3 furthermore sports activities an great spoiler.

Toyota says its new belief vehicles checklist a brand new direction for the Japanese firm, where racing will seemingly be prioritised to nurture new technology and merchandise for both Lexus and GR-badged vehicles.

It’s unclear when world or Australian deliveries will originate for the roadgoing GR GT, as properly because the notice-handiest GR GT3 and Lexus LFA Belief.

Pricing too, is purely speculative. Certainly on both looks and sound, the three belief vehicles seem like competitors to the Porsche 911 GT3 and McLaren 750S. Inquire pricing to be north of $400,000.

Being that the vehicles are described as non secular successors to both the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA, pricing may perchance even land in essential more than $700,000!