Articles by Byron Mathioudakis

In nearly 140 years of the motor vehicle, history records only two Australian cars that truly left their mark on the world – even to this day.

Is Toyota preparing two completely different utes to replace the ageing current HiLux in Australia from next year? The first is the widely-speculated but as-yet publicly unconfirmed facelift of today’s eight-generation HiLux, while the second is new-from-the-ground up production version of the EPU (Electric Pick-Up) dual-cab concept that debuted at the 2023 Tokyo motor show.

The Junior Ibrida might be the most relevant Alfa Romeo ever. All-new, it is set to deliver a surprisingly affordable, highly efficient and sophisticated mild-hybrid small SUV. That it also happens to be right on-brand with strong performance, engaging handling and striking Italian design inside and out makes this premium Euro crossover a standout. The Junior Ibrida deserves to be a big hit.

Is Ford worried about the economic fallout from the US Federal Government’s hard line on imported vehicle tariffs and other controversial policy changes?With the company priding itself as the ‘most American carmaker in the world’, is the threat of consumer retaliation against US vehicles keeping senior management up at night?According to Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman, William Clay Ford Jr., the family-run vehicle manufacturer is large enough and important enough to have the ear of the Trump Administration.“Well, first of all, we have the largest American footprint of any OEM (original equipment manufacturer),” he told journalists at Ford Australia’s 100 anniversary celebration in Melbourne earlier this month.“And so, you know, that puts us in pretty good shape, actually, relative to many others.“But I keep reminding our management team of this: we've been around 122 years. And in 122 years, around the world, we have gone through every kind of political regime, every kind of economic bit of turmoil… great depressions, recessions… and we've always come out of it in great shape.“It seems like, and I was just saying to my employees today – and you know, I'm not counting what (is going on) – I've been through nine major crises in my career, and each time it felt like it was existential, and each time we emerge from it and carry on and go to new heights.“I think this will take some adjusting to for sure, as I say that, you know, the fact that we have the largest American footprint, we employ the most Americans, we make the most vehicles in America, really, you know, puts us in pretty good shape.”That said, Ford’s most senior executive acknowledges that some deft diplomatic manoeuvrability would be prudent in today’s ever-shifting geopolitical climate.“We’re still working through all the implications of this, because, as you can imagine, this has tails well into our supply chain all around the world, and so there's still kind of a TBD (to be determined) for us on some of the finer points, but we're going to work very closely with the administration.“You know, the good news is we have a large voice in America, in an American industry. The administration listens to us, and we'll work with them as this gets clarified.”The Ford CEO’s reaction came the day after Tesla released data showing that its global sales for the first quarter of 2025 slid some 13 per cent year-on-year.This seems to support reports stating that consumers are recoiling from that brand due to its CEO Elon Musk’s political machinations in the US.In the first three months of this year in Australia, Tesla sales plummeted by 59.7 per cent year-on year, although the company’s best-seller – the Model Y – had been in runout leading up to that point, so supply may have been affected.According to data from S&P Global Mobility released in May last year, Ford is “the number one American automaker in terms of vehicles assembled, vehicles exported from America to other countries and hourly workers employed” – and that’s for the sixth year in succession.

The Ford Ranger is undergoing an evolution that will see Australia’s best-selling vehicle grow in size as well as scope, as it fends off the coming Toyota HiLux facelift and all-new rivals like the Kia Tasman, MG U9 and next-gen Nissan Navara. These are new niche programs and models that should shore up the current T6.2 architecture’s viability into the next decade for Australia.

The Stellantis-backed Chinese start-up, Leapmotor, is going for the booming plug-in hybrid electric vehicle segment in Australia with the C10 REEV. But unlike its mid-sized SUV PHEV rivals, this one is an EV-first proposition, offering impressive range, high equipment levels and a compellingly low price. Plus, regular over-the-air updates promise to improve it with age. Sounds too good to be true?

World firsts don’t come along every day, but today is just such a day… and an Aussie ute world first at that – with the unveiling of the Ford Ranger Super Duty.

Fledgling carmaker Leapmotor intends to make a splash in the small hybrid SUV space late this year with the launch of the B10 REEV.

Australia’s premium small SUV hybrid class is about to experience a shake-up with the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Junior.

Available in two grades from launch, the intriguing Cupra Tavascan comes in base Endurance and a sporty VZ flagship.