Articles by Jack Quick

The BYD Atto 3 is now one of the brand’s oldest vehicles it still sells locally but a major upgrade could soon be on the horizon.A filing on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) database, as reported by AutoHome, shows BYD is readying a new version of the Yuan Plus, which is the domestic name for the Atto 3 electric SUV sold in Australia.Featuring revised exterior styling cues like flush door handles, slimmer headlights, a full-width rear tail-light bar, plus different front and rear fascias, this new version of the Atto 3 has also grown in size.The MIIT filing notes it measures in at 4665mm long, 1895mm wide and 1675mm tall with a 2770mm wheelbase. This makes it 210mm longer, 20mm wider and 60mm taller than the current Atto 3 and closer in size to the likes of the mid-sized Kia EV5.Power reportedly comes from a rear-mounted electric motor which will be offered in two different power outputs – 200kW and 240kW.It’s fed by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) BYD Blade battery with an unknown capacity. Reports indicate that it could be a second-generation Blade battery, potentially meaning quicker charging, energy density and reduced degradation.Other notable details on the MIIT filing include the availability of 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels, as well as two-tone exterior paint colour finishes.The current BYD Atto 3, known as the Yuan Plus in China, went on sale in Australia in late 2022 when the brand relaunched locally.It has received one update since its launch which included some visual tweaks, a bigger touchscreen multimedia system, as well as different standard-fit tyres.There are two variants currently offered in Australia – the Essential and Premium. Both are powered by a 150kW front-mounted electric motor which is fed by either a 50kW or 60.4kWh LFP Blade battery.Overseas BYD has already launched the Atto 3 Evo which takes the current model and switches it from front- to rear-wheel drive, plus there’s an available dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain.Additionally there’s a larger 74.8kWh LFP Blade battery that offers up to 510km of CLTC claimed range. It operates on an 800V electrical architecture, allowing for a quicker DC fast-charging rate of up to 220kW.Other notable changes with the Atto 3 Evo includes revised rear suspension, a bigger boot, the addition of a front boot and a repositioned gear selector.Prototype versions of the Atto 3 Evo have previously been spied in Australia, indicating a local launch is on the cards.It’s unclear whether this new-generation version of the Atto 3 will eventually come to Australia, or if it will be a China-only model.

The Mazda CX-30 is one of the Japanese carmaker’s most popular SUV models and it’s likely due to receive a major update or next-generation model in the next few years.Essentially a lifted version of the Mazda3 hatchback and sedan, the CX-30 was revealed back in 2019 and hasn’t received any major facelift or update since it launched.To help paint a picture of what this updated version of the CX-30 looks like, we have new digital renders from Thanos Pappas.Overall, the silhouette remains largely the same, but the biggest difference is the front fascia.Inspired by the likes of the new-generation CX-5, there’s an angrier and more angular front end with thin LED headlights and prominent bonnet bulges.There’s even an alternate version of the front end which is largely blanked out and reminiscent of the Vision X-Compact concept from the 2025 Japan Mobility Show.This latter option indicates what an electric or hybrid version of the CX-30 could look like.Mazda is currently developing its Skyactiv-Z in-house hybrid powertrain and the first vehicle it’ll feature in is the new CX-5 in 2027.It’s expected that versions of this Skyactiv-Z hybrid engine will eventually filter out to the rest of Mazda’s line-up of vehicles. This means the CX-30 will likely eventually end up with some form of hybrid engine.In fact, the CX-30 has previously already been offered with hybrid power, even in Australia, with the Skyactiv-X 24V mild hybrid on sale locally from 2020 to 2023, as well as the Skyactiv-G 12V mild hybrid that was briefly available.Both were discontinued locally due to slow sales and since then the only engine options have been 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engines.Mazda is also increasing its line-up of electric vehicles (EVs) and it wouldn’t be surprising if an update to the CX-30 brings more widespread adoption of electric powertrains.An electric version of the CX-30 was previously offered in China and built by the joint venture company Changan Mazda. It was jacked up much higher than the regular CX-30 and featured a unique front bumper.It was powered by a 160kW front-mounted electric motor which was fed by a 61.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The claimed range was up to 450km, according to NEDC testing.The CX-30 EV has since been succeeded by the larger Mazda EZ-60, which is based on the same platform as the Deepal S07 that is sold in Australia.At this stage it’s unclear what other changes may happen with this eventual CX-30 update, however the new CX-5 may preview some things.Mazda has notably moved away from having a physical rotary dial on the centre console with the new CX-5 and is now focusing on a much larger central touchscreen multimedia system.For now we’ll just have to wait and see what Mazda has in store for the CX-30.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has warned the legacy carmaker may axe its Australian engineering arm if the local government doesn’t come to the table and help equalise costs.While the Blue Oval hasn’t produced any cars in Australia since 2016, it has since still led the engineering development of vehicles like the Ranger ute and related Everest SUV.Ford currently has around 1500 engineers employed in Australia.“Australia has become ground zero for the global industry because your government dropped all the tariffs,” said Farley to Australian media, including CarsGuide.“It’s a completely open market and also pushing CO2 , arguably way beyond the customer requirements.“So it’s this cauldron of innovation and brutal competition, and to have engineers here – we’re the only ones left.“It's amazing to me that no one notices that Toyota has like 10 engineers in the country, and Ford has got thousands.“Do we get credit at the brand level? Probably not, but thank god they’re here because we wouldn’t have a Super Duty without them, and the global Ranger wouldn’t be number two to HiLux globally.“ needs to decide if they want to help us equalise the cost differential … because this is among the most expensive places to have engineers on the planet.”Another element is the Australian government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) could further strangle the future of Ford’s local engineering efforts.“What we’ve seen around the world with this kind of pressure on pure EVs is that ultimately all OEMs develop compliance vehicles," Farley said.“They’re not designed for customers. They’re designed for the OEM to be compliant and they’re subsidised by the OEMs and the customers have great choice.“That’s not a natural market and over time that winds up not being sustainable.“Something your government, or any government, has to be very sensitive to around the CO2 glide path. We want to reduce our CO2 footprint, but there’s a level that the customer can’t afford, and not all duty cycles can be electrified.”Farley noted one particular use case that electrified vehicles currently aren’t suited for is for heavy towing and that this happens frequently in Australia.“From my standpoint, those are the two policy issues that this country has to face. You want to prioritise mining and extraction of raw materials? Fine, but then you’re going to have to make some tough choices," Farley said.“Is the CO2 road map sustainable for customers? I think Australia may be on the wrong side of that now.“As well, you have to decide as a country, do you want to have a traditional engineering capability in your country?”“I think the government has to decide on that and it can’t sit on the sidelines and pretend that’s not a choice.“It’s a choice because that engineering can be done in a lot of other places … cheaper and faster.“The good thing is Ford is committed, but we’re not going to make bad choices.”As it currently stands, Ford does have a wealth of credits as reflected in the 2025 performance period for NVES.To be exact, it has 451,899 credits which it can either trade with other carmakers for profit or hoard to offset the results in coming years as the targets get stricter.A major reason for why Ford currently has NVES credits is because it, among a wealth of other brands, advocated for the implementation of two different target types – Type 1 and Type 2.Type 1 vehicles are regular passenger cars like sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs, whereas Type 2 vehicles include utes, vans, as well as body-on-frame four-wheel drive SUVs with a towing capacity of more than 3000kg.The latter has CO2 targets that aren’t as low but they still scale down as the years progress.Many of Ford’s best-selling vehicles, including the Ranger, Everest and Transit all fall into the Type 2 category.For context, in 2025 the CO2 emissions target for Type 1 vehicles was 141g/km and for Type 2 vehicles was 210g/km.It has since been reduced to 117g/km for Type 1 vehicles and 180g/km for Type 2 vehicles in 2026.It takes until 2028 for the CO2 emissions target for Type 2 vehicles to undercut the original 2025 CO2 emissions target for Type 1 vehicles.It's understood Ford is already making efforts to reduced its fleet CO2 footprint in Australia.The company has discontinued the 2.0-litre four-cylinder bi-turbo engine in the Ranger and Everest, instead relying more heavily on the single-turbo version in addition to the wealth of other powertrains offered, including V6s and a plug-in hybrid.The Blue Oval has also introduced more electrified Transit Custom offerings in Australia.Beyond the E-Transit Custom and E-Transit commercial vans though, the only other pure electric vehicle (EV) Ford Australia currently offers is the Mustang Mach-E mid-size SUV.

Tesla Australia has confirmed the pricing and specifications of the upcoming Model Y L six-seat SUV ahead of its launch in the second quarter of 2026.The 2026 Tesla Model Y L is priced from $74,900 before on-road costs, which positions it between the five-seat Model Y's Premium Long Range AWD ($68,900 before on-road costs) and Performance ($89,400 before on-road costs) variants.While three-row versions of the Model Y have been offered in other markets, the Model Y L marks the first time it has been offered in Australia.It has a six-seat configuration with second-row captain’s chairs that are heated, ventilated and feature adjustable headrests and armrests. Even the third-row seats offer heating.Every second- and third-row seat has ISOFIX and top-tether child seat anchorage points, meaning you can install up to four child seats.The Model Y L has the same body shape as the regular Model Y from the B-pillar forwards, however the rear doors have been lengthened, as well as the rear three-quarter panel. There’s also a higher roof line to account for the third row of seating.It measures in at 4969mm long, 1668mm tall and 2129mm wide with a 3040mm wheelbase. This makes it 177mm longer and 44mm taller than the standard Model Y.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 378kW and 590Nm.This is fed by a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery of an undisclosed capacity, however Tesla claims there’s 681km of range, according to WLTP testing. For context, the Model Y Premium Long Range AWD offers 600km of WLTP-claimed range.The high-voltage battery pack can be DC fast-charged at rates up to 250kW and it offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) at rates up to 3.3kW through the use of an adaptor that plugs into the charge port. This is the first time a Tesla vehicle has offered V2L in Australia.2026 Tesla Model Y Australian pricing:2026 Tesla Model Y L powertrain:2026 Tesla Model Y L dimensions2026 Tesla Model Y L standard equipment:19-inch alloy wheels with aero coversSix-seat configuration16.0-inch central touchscreen multimedia system8.0-inch second-row touchscreen50W driver’s side wireless charger30W front passenger’s side wireless charger19-speaker sound systemHeated and ventilated front- and second-row seatsHeated third-row seatsElectric folding third- and second-row seats2026 Tesla Model Y L safety:Tesla has confirmed the Model Y L retains the regular Model Y’s five-star ANCAP safety rating.There are nine airbags which cover all passengers, including those in the third row.2026 Tesla Model Y L warranty and servicing:The 2026 Tesla Model Y L is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, whereas the high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 192,000km.Owners also receive five years of roadside assistance, including puncture repair and tyre replacement. Tesla will even offer you a loan vehicle if a repair isn’t possible.Tesla doesn’t enforce typical logbook servicing intervals for its vehicles.

The Kia K4 was a massive shakeup for the South Korean carmaker when it launched in Australia last year as it ditched the popular Cerato nameplate.Launching initially in sedan guise only, the K4 hasn’t been the sales hit the Cerato was, at least yet. The K4 Hatch has now arrived and it could help correct the course.Measuring 27cm shorter overall than the sedan, the K4 Hatch has a shorter rear overhang. This makes the K4 look more European and contemporary than the more conventionally styled sedan.Another benefit of the shorter rear hangover is it's easier to park in tight parallel car spots. This can make a world of a difference to small car buyers.While shorter overall, the K4 Hatch’s wheelbase remains unchanged from the sedan. This means the almost tardis-like interior space carries over, especially for second-row passengers.Overall boot space (438L) is down slightly on the sedan (508L) but the boot opening is much larger and the space itself is squarer and usable for big, bulky items. It’s also great to still see a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor.Another big shakeup that coincided with the introduction of the hatchback body style was a slight change to what powers the non-GT-Line K4 trims.It’s still a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine but produces slightly less power and torque (110kW/180Nm vs 112kW/192Nm). It’s also mated to continuously variable transmission (CVT) rather than a torque-converter automatic. The same set-up can be found in the Kia Seltos and Hyundai i30 Sedan, among others.While this engine has never been an outright performance beast, the CVT does make the most of what it has to offer. It’s happy to flare the revs when required to get up to speed, but you get that monotonous engine drone as there's no gear changes.At higher speeds the engine does run out of puff and it frequently needs to dip above 3000rpm in order to maintain highway/freeway speeds.Despite this, fuel consumption has improved dramatically thanks to the CVT. Kia claims it consumes an average of 6.1L/100km, versus 7.4L/100km for the MY25 K4 Sedan. In the real world I saw an average of 6.9L/100km across 350km of urban/highway driving, which is considerably better than what I got in previous testing of the K4 Sedan with the six-speed torque-converter auto.It’s disappointing the K4 still only has a 47L fuel tank which is small for the segment and means you’ll need to be refuelling more frequently.Another redeeming factor for the lack of engine power is how comfortable and dynamic the K4 Hatch is to drive. Like the sedan it has received a local ride and handling tune and that is evident in and around town, as well as on the open road.The car reacts to pimply urban roads with suppleness and even larger bumps at higher speeds don’t unsettle the ride.This is complimented by the steering which is direct and has a nice weight to make the car feel fun to drive on the open road but not too unwieldy in tight, urban streets.The K4 Sport+, which is the penultimate trim level in the line-up and the highest trim with the 2.0-litre non-turbo engine, is priced from $39,090 before on-road costs, regardless of the body style. This is getting up there in terms of price compared to similarly specced rivals like the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and Subaru Impreza.Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5.0-inch climate control screen, synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats.However, for almost $40,000 before on-road costs this K4 misses out on a wireless charger and it has a plastic steering wheel instead of a leather- or synthetic leather-wrapped unit.Beyond this, the K4 Sport+ comes with the entire active safety suite including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with lane centring and lane change assist, plus front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Strangely a surround-view camera isn't offered across the line-up.There are also seven airbags, an emergency SOS calling function, plus ISOFIX child-seat anchorages on the two outboard rear seats and top-tether points on all rear seats.Like all Kias, the K4 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. This is now becoming standard among mainstream carmakers.Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first seven services cost a total of $3883, which averages out to $554 per service. This isn’t cheap and you’ll pay less for servicing an equivalent Hyundai i30 or Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

The Mitsubishi Pajero is soon coming back and it will have plenty of stiff competition to go up against.The Japanese carmaker is set to reveal the new-generation Pajero at some point during 2026 and it will likely make its way to Australia shortly after.Mitsubishi has officially teased this new “cross-country” SUV and we’ve already spied prototypes being tested here in Australia so it’s clear the reveal is imminent.As previously speculated, it’s understood this new Mitsubishi SUV will be called just the Pajero, dropping the Sport suffix altogether.This will see the iconic and original Pajero nameplate revived for the first time since it was retired in 2021.What platform will the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero use?There is still a lot of speculation regarding what the new Pajero will be based on. The Pajero has historically been its own vehicle, however the Pajero Sport (formerly known as the Challenger) has always been based on the Triton ute.Previous reports have stipulated the new Pajero will be based on the current Triton, which launched locally in 2024. This is a massive change in formula and means it will be body-on-frame.Historically, the Pajero was built on a ladder-frame chassis, but later versions from the 2000s onwards were built on a monocoque platform, like the current Land Rover Defender.What engine will the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero use?Given the Triton bones, it’s expected the new-gen Pajero will likely share a version of the 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine. It produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton.It’ll likely also receive Mitsubishi’s latest version of its Super-Select four-wheel-drive system which allows for full-time four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces.Locally the Triton is only offered with a six-speed automatic transmission, however the outgoing Pajero Sport was offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s unclear if Mitsubishi will offer this new-generation Pajero with a similar eight-speed automatic transmission.What will the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero look like?In terms of styling, previous prototypes have shown it’ll have a big, boxy and bluff silhouette. From some angles it even looks like the Nissan Patrol Y63.Although we haven’t seen the design in full yet, it’s expected design cues like a large grille, headlights that cascade down the front fascia, plus bonnet bulges will feature.At the rear there is no tailgate-mounted spare wheel, likely meaning it’ll be mounted under the vehicle.The interior design is yet to be revealed though it will likely share a lot with the Triton. Five- and seven-seat configurations are likely.When will the 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero go on sale?This new Mitsubishi large SUV can’t come soon enough as the Japanese carmaker axed a number of models, including the Pajero Sport, in 2025 as they didn't meet new Australian Design Rule (ADR) standards which stipulated specific requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.As a result Mitsubishi’s largest SUV is currently the mid-sized Outlander, which is also its best-seller by far. Certain trims are available in seven-seat form.

There’s now officially a new best-selling Chinese brand in Australia.

Ford is still investigating the possibility of creating an ultimate Raptor for the road.Speaking to Australian media, including CarsGuide, Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley said a production version of the Raptor T1+ Dakar racer is being studied.“I don’t want to go into it too much, other than say, Kumar and the team really under that the invisible line between off-road and on-road supercars is blurring and with partially electric powertrains and digitally controlled damping and torque vectoring, you can now imagine a digitally enabled super vehicle that on-road and off-road is equally capable.“What the silhouette looks like all the details … we’ll continue to look at, but if there’s a company in the world that would break the rules and do something like that, I think it should be Ford.”This follows commentary from Farley in August last year where he discussed the potential of a 1000hp supercar that he sees eventually competing in the Dakar Rally.Ford currently competes in the Dakar Rally with the Raptor T1+ which is a purpose-built off-road racer. It’s powered by a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine, has 37-inch off-road tyres, as well as 400mm of ground clearance.Previous reports indicated that Ford is plotting a Mustang Raptor that could sit at the top of the Raptor line-up, above the Bronco Raptor, Ranger Raptor and F-150 Raptor R.It’s unclear if the Mustang will be used as a base for this potential off-road supercar, though Ford did recently create the high-performance Mustang GTD to rival the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.In the aforementioned interview with Bloomberg in August 2025, Farley noted this potential off-road supercar, if it’s actually produced, will be different to vehicles like the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato.“The on-road performance hierarchy is very simple to see and the very top is over-served in my opinion, but no one’s ever done off-road supercar,” said Mr Farley.“Let’s see how long it would last on the Baja 500 course.”It’s now been years since rumours of an ultimate Raptor supercar being produced, so for now we still need to wait and see whether it will actually eventuate.

Lexus’ latest high-performance offering flew off the shelves when it first launched, but now a new influx of stock means wait times have been slashed.According to Lexus Australia, there is now only a wait of up to three months for a LBX Morizo RR, which is down from the circa 12-month wait as reported in November 2025.“The LBX Morizo RR proves that high‑performance and sophisticated luxury can coexist in a compact SUV. The current wait time is up to three months, depending on the choice of colour and trim,” said a Lexus Australia spokesperson.It’s unclear how much LBX Morizo RR stock is coming in this latest allocation, or if stock is more free-flowing now.It’s understood only 100 examples of this hot SUV were allocated to Australia for the first year of production and all of these sold out quickly, creating a backlog of orders.The LBX Morizo RR is based on the regular LBX SUV but is also essentially a more sophisticated and high-riding version of the Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla.It’s a personal favourite for former Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO Akio Toyoda, whose nickname and pseudonym as a racer is Morizo.At the heart of this hot, pint-sized SUV is a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 206kW and 390Nm.This engine also features in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla but it’s slightly detuned. In those aforementioned cars the engine produces 221kW and 400Nm.The only transmission option offered in Australia is an eight-speed torque-converter automatic. However, a six-speed manual is offered in Japan.Pricing for the LBX Morizo RR is currently $76,490 before on-road costs. This is almost $20,000 more than the top-spec version of the regular LBX Hybrid. It’s also $6000 more than the top-spec GR Corolla GTS automatic.

Renault is soon set to reveal a new concept car that will preview a potential urban compact SUV targeted at the Indian market.The Renault Bridger concept is set to be revealed on March 10 and it will measure under 4.0-metres long. Cars in India that are under this threshold receive tax breaks as they have a smaller footprint and are generally more fuel efficient than larger cars.Vehicles like the Mahindra XUV3XO, Hyundai Venue and Suzuki Fronx are all under 4.0-metres long.Ahead of its official reveal, the French carmaker has revealed some teaser photos of the Bridger concept.It appears it will have a boxy and squared-off exterior design with a prominent spare tyre mounted on the tailgate. This gives it a similar look to the Suzuki Jimny XL.No other details about the Bridger concept have been announced yet. Given it’ll be a concept, it’s unclear whether there will be any details surrounding its powertrain, nor its off-roading potential.Renault typically reveals a concept show car a year or so before it reveals the production counterpart. However, it’s unclear just yet if Renault actually intends to do a production version of the Bridger concept.In India, Renault currently offers four vehicles and they’re all made domestically – the compact Kwid that is rebadged as the Dacia Spring for European markets, the Triber small people mover, Kiger small SUV, and the new Indian-specification Duster which is notably different from the Romanian-sourced, Australian-spec Duster.It’s unclear whether a production version of the Bridger concept, if it ever actually happens, will be offered outside of India.No Indian-made Renault models are currently offered in Australia, though there is a growing demand for small crossover SUVs. The Chery Tiggo 4, for example, is climbing up the sales charts in Australia.The smallest SUV Renault currently offers in Australia is the Megane E-Tech which is an electric crossover. The Captur small SUV currently isn’t offered locally and it’s unclear if it will return in facelifted guise.This also means the most affordable Renault you can currently buy in Australia is an entry-level Duster, which is priced from $34,990 drive-away.If the production version of the Bridger concept comes to Australia it could serve as a new, entry-level Renault model for the French brand.