Articles by Chris Thompson

Images of the second-generation Hyundai Venue have appeared online this week after the new light SUV was spotted testing ahead of its imminent launch.The 2026 Hyundai Venue, which is reportedly launching in India on November 4, 2025, has been given a totally new look and interior, spy photos reveal.Originally snapped by @casper_i.vory on Instagram and later published by The Korean Car Blog, the photos show an undisguised Venue on the streets presumably in Korea where the user is based.The Venue is set for a fairly hefty upgrade according to the images and word from Hyundai officials.The new look brings the light SUV into the brand’s more recent design language, with slim headlights and tail-lights, more muscular lines and silhouette, as well as elements which reference other Hyundai models.On top of the ‘Venue’ lettering across the tailgate, the model’s name is etched into the C-pillar. The daytime running light (DRL) bar across the front of the new Venue is now a Hyundai standard, and the outer-DRLs form a C-shape around the headlights.The roof rails and clamshell-style bonnet carry through design-wise to the new-gen car, though the haunches over the wheel arches are more muscular than before.Inside, the design is yet to be fully seen - only a photo of the seats with the steering wheel is visible - but Hyundai India confirmed at its investor day this year that the new Venue would feature higher-end additions like dual-12.3-inch screens as with many Hyundai models.The brand’s Indian arm also confirmed level 2 advanced driver assistance (ADAS), over-the-air (OTA) updates, and a new ‘super-strong’ structure for the light SUV.While the Indian market will apparently be the first to receive the new Venue, expect more information about a global launch including Australia to come closer to the new year.

The Suzuki Jimny has finally been updated to gain new safety tech and some other simple features that most cars have had standard for years - including a colour digital driver display.The updated 2026 Suzuki Jimny 4x4 has been revealed for its home market in Japan, where pricing is up significantly.Japanese outlet Best Car reports the local pricing has increased by as much as 309,100 Yen, which directly converts to $3178.The pricing increase isn’t so extreme in its raw figure, but for the variant that price applies to it’s an increase of 13.6 per cent. Pricing rose from 1,962,400 Yen to 2,271,500 Yen.In Australia, the corresponding model is the Jimny Lite manual, currently $34,990 drive-away. A 13.6 per cent price jump would see it cost just over $39,700.The update, only available in Japan for now, adds much-needed dual-sensor AEB (autonomous emergency braking) and lane departure prevention. Auto models also gain adaptive cruise control.The Jimny also now supports Suzuki Connect with app functionality, and according to the brand’s Japanese website a colour display replaces the black and white unit currently found between the physical speedo and tacho dials - which remain as such even after the update.Expect to see an Australian market announcement for the updated Suzuki Jimny closer to its 2026 launch.

Subaru to reveal performance duo in Tokyo

European media is today publishing what outlets are calling the first photos of the incoming MG S6 electric car, but the Australian government has had images of the mid-size SUV for some time.

After years of on and off when it comes to plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains, Mercedes-Benz Australia seems to have finally committed. The GLC350e SUV, a plug-in version of the brand’s biggest seller, is here to prove it, so we're taking a test drive.

Mercedes-Benz has dipped its toe in the plug-in hybrid space before, but now there are a more models on offer that suggest the brand is all-in. The newest to arrive is the C350e, a PHEV version of its most recognisable model, the C-Class. We hit up the Australian launch to test it out.

A limited-time offer on the Kia Tasman could be a sign the brand is trying to boost early sales of the ute to get closer to its lofty sales goal.

The newest automotive engineering facility in the country is Walkinshaw’s huge south-east Melbourne ‘super site’, which has just been completed, according to the company.The facility will house production lines set to continue the company's work converting full-size American pick-ups like the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra to Australian-spec right-hand drive.“Our new Walkinshaw Automotive Group super site is finally finished and we have begun slowly moving in!” said Ryan Walkinshaw in a post on Facebook.Ryan Walkinshaw, whose father Tom Walkinshaw was a key architect in creating fast Holdens wearing his own name and the HSV badge, has continued leading what is now Walkinshaw Group in the automotive engineering and development space.Walkinshaw says the 100,000 square metre facility will “house up to 1500 employees”, and be “capable of manufacturing 20,000+ vehicles a year for Australia”. “It’s one of the top-five largest manufacturing facilities in all of Australia, home to the most advanced engineering centre in the country, six-plus production lines and our Supercars championship racing team Walkinshaw Andretti United.“Proud to be investing and committing our business to a long future here in Melbourne.”This morning, Ram Trucks Australia confirmed it is moving into its new home, securing “the jobs of more than 270 factory workers, warehouse staff, quality inspectors and engineers”.Production is due to kick off in November for the Ram 1500 at the new site, though neither Walkinshaw nor Ram confirmed how many production lines will be set for the American brand.Toyota and Chevrolet are yet to confirm the move into the new Walkinshaw facility at time of publication.

Isuzu’s new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine takes the mantle from the outgoing 1.9-litre as the smaller option in the brand’s range, but it’s not solely a move for product improvement.

Kia’s new modular van is confirmed for Australia, with the PV5 electric passenger and commercial van to land in mid-2026.Designed on a new dedicated electric platform that will see other models follow, the 2026 Kia PV5 can be configured in many ways across passenger and commercial purposes, with features like a removable front passenger seat, stain-resistant interior materials and a walk-through configuration between the driver and cargo section on some versions.The PV5 sits between small and medium vans in terms of its size, bigger than a Volkswagen Caddy but smaller than a Toyota HiAce or Ford Transit Custom.Due in Australia in Q2 or Q3, 2026, the PV5 will be shown at Mobility Live in Sydney on October 15th and 16th this year.Kia Australia is yet to commence local suspension tuning and will confirm Australian specifications and pricing for the PV5 “in due course”.Kia in its global communications confirmed the PV5 will boast a range up to 416km and feature 30-minute 10-80 per cent fast-charging capability, with ‘up to 16 variants’ able to be configured for multiple purposes.Global specs show the PV5 being 4695mm long, 1895mm wide and 1923mm tall with an antenna, plus a 2995mm wheelbase.Outputs come in at 120kW and 250Nm, with battery sizes either 43.3 kWh, 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh. Passenger, Cargo and Chassis Cab body styles mean the PV5 can be anything from a personal transport, courier get-around, or even mobile base for a business.Kia worked with businesses like DHL Korea, Korea Post, healthcare provider GeoYoung and Milwaukee power tools to implement features and capabilities that would make the PV5 useful across a range of applications.It can also be used for leisure as a transport shuttle or camping van, and the PV5 has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to help in numerous situations.As well as the Electric-Global Modular Platform for Service (E-GMP.S) platform it rides on reducing production and development costs, Kia looked at further ways to reduce costs and make the PV5 more durable, including LED headlamps integrated into the front bumper, as well as panels like wheel arches or bumpers being divided into sections for easy replacement.