Articles by Tim Gibson

Ineos Automotive has unveiled its new Grenadier four-wheel drive with some Australian-tuned upgrades.The Black edition Grenadier will sit at the top of range, with a starting price of $122,000, before on-road costs. The special edition upgrades are available on both the wagon and ute versions of the car. The rugged off-road capabilities and minimalist interior see the Grenadier line up as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.However, the French-built, British branded and German-engineered Grenadier is more expensive than the 70 Series, which starts from $79,200, before on-roads for the cheapest automatic variant. With a starting price of $105,000 for the double cab chassis, it is priced more similarly to the new-generation Land Rover Defender, which differs from the Grenadier’s ladder frame by resting on a monocoque frame.Ineos has said the new Black Edition has received some additional gear to give it some Australia-specific improvements. There are new specialist all terrain tyres from BFGoodrich, which are said to be more durable and offer consistent performance on a range of off-road surfaces. Plus, the Grenadier has undergone some other tuning, with a new variable-ratio steering system to aid sharp manoeuvring, especially on uneven terrain.The variable ratio steering box allows for a lower ratio around the central steering position, delivering "increased precision and responsiveness" according to the brand. It has some other comfort upgrades to improve long-distance cruising the car, in addition, the turning circle has also been reduced by around five per cent. The Black edition receives several blacked out elements on the body work of the car, such as the grille and skid plates.There are 18-inch black alloy wheels, privacy glass and lockable spare wheel storage. On the inside, the car gets a dark interior headlining and carpet flooring. The niche brand has said while there is no limit on volume, the car will have a limited production timeframe. The Black Edition Grenadier will be available with the same petrol and diesel choices as on the rest of the range. The BMW-sourced 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine produces 210kW and 450Nm, while the diesel has 183kW and 550Nm. Both engine choices are mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with a proper 4x4 transfer case.2026 Ineos Grenadier price

Toyota will offer steering locks as part of its battle to maintain security on its new vehicles.Late last year, 60 high-end Toyota vehicles were allegedly stolen, including LandCruiser four-wheel drive and LandCruiser Prado models, with a total estimated value of $9.0m.Many of these have individual starting prices at or above $100,000 mark.They are also some of the best-selling cars in Australia.Several were recovered in Melbourne and Queensland, before they were meant to be shipped overseas.Toyota Australia released a statement earlier this month and said security enhancements have been implemented. “Toyota is committed to continuously improving vehicle security and has progressively introduced advanced protective measures across its range. “In 2025, Toyota took further steps to enhance security on several models, including the New HiLux, LandCruiser 300 and LandCruiser Prado providing owners with even greater peace of mind,” the statement said.It looks like Toyota have now beefed up its physical prevention with the addition of a steering lock as an optional accessory.The steering locks are available as a genuine Toyota accessory on all models, and in the past few decades were used as a deterrent to car thieves.“Constructed from automotive-grade steel for strength and durability. An internal spring system ensures the arm extends smoothly with minimal effort, while the four-point contact technology delivers a secure and consistent grip on the steering wheel,” Sydney City Toyota’s website reads.“The locking system is designed with anti-tampering features to enhance security and reliability. The surface is coated with a soft resin finish that helps prevent scratches or damage during use.“The bright red body improves visibility and serves as a clear deterrent.”The steering lock is likely to be the first of several new features to be provided by Toyota for increased security.The brand is currently developing an additional engine immobiliser to combat the issue. 

The MG4 Urban electric hatchback has just been priced in the United Kingdom, offering a new budget option in the EV space. It will start from £23,495 (about $46,000), but it is expected to be significantly cheaper when it comes to Australia, potentially around $30,000.This MG4 Urban differs from the MG4 hatch Australia currently gets, particularly as it is front-wheel drive instead of rear-wheel drive, but is also noticeably bigger.The Urban measures at 4395mm long as opposed to 4287mm with the MG4 hatch.The MG4 Urban will offer MG a more affordable and more direct competitor to other budget EV hatch rivals, lining up with front-wheel alternatives such as the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora and the coming Geely EX2.With a current starting price of $36,990, before on-road costs, the current MG4 is more expensive than the Dolphin and the Ora, but this FWD Urban could close the gap.The MG4 was the ninth best-selling electric car in Australia in 2025, despite suffering a more than 50 per cent drop in sales year-on-year. We can expect the Urban to come to Aussie shores some time in 2026, but MG Australia did not state an official launch date when contacted for comment. "We do not speculate or comment on future models or product details. We are always evaluating and looking for different powertrain options across our line up - MG Motor Australia will update as models are formally confirmed," an MG Australia spokesperson said. The Urban features a neat interior, including a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital driver display. In the UK, it comes with two single elector motor choices, producing 109kW and 117kW, respectively. It is expected Australia will get a different version of the car, which has a more powerful electric motor, producing 120kW and 250Nm. The UK variants either have a 43kWh battery, offering 323km of WLTP driving range or a 53.9kWh battery, extending the range to 415km.According to MG, the Urban’s battery can charge from 30 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. 

BYD’s upcoming flagship Tang 9 SUV has been spotted in China

Sales of electric vehicles surpassed petrol-only sales in Europe for the first time ever in December 2025, according to Reuters.This equated to 22.6 per cent of total cars registered for December, edging past petrol-only at 22.5 per cent.However, petrol and electric trailed plug-less and plug-in hybrid cars, which held 44 per cent of total sales for the month.Petrol and diesel sales suffered the biggest sales losses in Europe in 2025.Electric vehicle popularity has persisted in Europe despite various external factors threatening to curb its progress.The European Union has rolled back its 2035 internal-combustion engine total ban, with no 100 per cent CO2 reduction in place.There are also 35 per cent tariffs still in place for Chinese-imported electric vehicles, on top of a 10 per cent foreign car tariff.While this change has forced many Chinese brands to prioritise hybrid and internal combustion vehicles in Europe, EV sales are still increasing.  Chinese brand BYD recently overtook Tesla for sales of electrical vehicles globally. This is the first time EVs have overtaken petrol in Europe, but it's expected it will still be at least five years before they are the leading source of sales overall. Other electrified set-ups including plug-less and plug-in hybrids are currently the most popular choice for buyers.Many previously petrol-only models are being replaced with hybrid options by brands ahead of electric-only."It will still take around ​half a decade before pure electric cars genuinely overtake combustion-engine models across the region, but this is nonetheless a start," independent automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt told Reuters.There has been a similar trend in Australia, with electrified vehicles outselling petrol cars for the first time in December. Plug-in and plug-less hybrids are leading the way in Australia, taking over from petrol and diesel alternatives. Many brands Down Under have begun a similar process to their counterparts in Europe, phasing out petrol-only models in favour of hybrid set-ups. Toyota now only sells many of its popular models as hybrid-only, including some of Australia's best sellers such as the RAV4 and Kluger SUVs.

GWM is preparing a V8-powered Tank 800 as its latest hardcore off-roader, which will launch this year, according to Auto Home. The brand unveiled its V8 engine at the Shanghai motor show in April 2025, and it looks like the Tank 800 will be the first car to use it.It is thought the car will be a more luxury alternative to other rugged off-roaders and will come with two engine choices. The first is a six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and plug-in hybrid set-up, producing 283kW and 800Nm.The main event is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo eight-cylinder plug-in hybrid set-up. The engine on its own produces 403kW and when combined with the electric motors increases to 735kW.Tank is GWM’s off-roading sub brand, challenging the established 4WD pack. The Tank 800's gutsy engine choices sees it shape up as a potential rival to the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser. It could have an edge over these rivals as it would have a fully-fledged V8, said to operate in line with emissions regulations in Australia. The Toyota LandCruiser down-sized to a 3.3-litre six-cylinder engine with its latest 300 Series revamp, and Nissan will ditch V8-power in the new Patrol due next year. This means the Tank 800 would be more powerful and have a bigger engine than its big name rivals. The Tank 800 is also speculated to be at a similar price point to its rivals, with the LandCruiser and Patrol both starting at about $100,000.It is likely to feature a more luxury specification, such as what is found on the Range Rover.Australia currently gets the Tank 300 and Tank 500, which are smaller in size compared to the in-prospect Tank 800, and both have proved popular choices with buyers. GWM will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the Tank 300 in the first quarter of this year, with a V6 diesel Tank 500 also on the way as it continues to add to its lineup. Australia is a crucial market for GWM, with the brand experiencing a major sales increase over the last 12 months. 

The new-generation Kia Seltos compact SUV has been officially priced in South Korea.The Seltos petrol starts from around 24.8 million Korean won, which equates to just less than $25,000.Kias in Australia tends to cost an extra 30-40 per cent compared to South Korean equivalents. Based on this, we can speculate a starting price of somewhere in the mid-$30,000s, so there will be a subtle price increase on the previous model.Hybrid variants of the Seltos will be more expensive and we can expect a start price of around the $40,000-plus bracket. This pricing would position the Seltos in a similar price range to the current Hyundai Kona, its sister car, which comes with petrol, electric and hybrid set-ups.The Seltos' base hybrid variant would be more expensive than the base Toyota Corolla Cross, which is a hybrid-exclusive model.The Seltos hyrbid will be the first non-petrol model available for the compact SUV, with just two petrol-only choices on sale in Australia at the moment.The incoming hybrid Seltos will help fill the void left by the axed Niro electric and hybrid compact SUV, with its new-generation model officially ruled out for an Aussie launch. The Seltos’ has four power set-up choices on the new model.There will be a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol option, producing 110kW and 179Nm along with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 132kW/265Nm or 142kW/265Nm.The hybrid will have a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor, which produces 105kW and 265Nm.The car will continue to be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts. It will feature plenty of new safety gear onboard, including advanced collision avoidance systems for forward, blind spot and rear cross traffic.There will be a digital key, wireless phone charging and a revamped multimedia system, which has a single digital display spanning across the dashboard.Deliveries in South Korea will begin in the coming days. The new Kia Seltos will launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

BMW will continue to produce V8 and V12 engines for some time yet, according to a report in Auto News. Continued big engine manufacturing for BMW was looking bleak as its all-electric plan got underway in 2025.Neue Klasse launched in 2025 as a plan for BMW to step up its renewable endeavours, unveiling a next-generation iX3 electric SUV as its first model.It featured 33 per cent recycled materials and revamped electric power, and was its first model under the new direction for the company. Adding fuel to the fire, BMW ceased production of V8s in its Steyr plant in Austria late last year. Its Munich plant has been at the forefront of the electric shift, as it is retooled for manufacturing electric vehicles. Despite this evidence of a wind down, the German giant's petrol-guzzling engines continue to be a feature across its lineup. There are still 400 workers who continue to manufacture cylinder heads, crankcases and crankshafts for eight- and 12-cylinder engines in Munich. V8 and V12 engine production has been shifted to BMW’s Hams Hall facility in the United Kingdom, where three- and four-cylinder engines have been produced since 2022. The European Union's recent backtracking on its 2035 internal combustion engine sales ban could also re-ignite the BMW's big-engine line-up.The V12 engines are built for Rolls-Royce models such as the Phantom and Ghost, which employ a 6.75-litre twin turbo-charged variant. V8 engines remain available on many of BMW’s high-performance SUVs, including the X5, X6 and X7, with some 7 series sedans also featuring the unit. Australia gets this 4.4-litre twin turbo-charged eight-cylinder engine in those SUVs, which also comes in the M8, getting a hybrid twist in the ballistic M5 sedan and newly-added XM SUV.The United States remains the main driver for ensuring BMW continue to build bigger engines, as they continue to be strong sellers in models.A spokesperson for the US branch of BMW told Auto News demand for V8 engines remains “above average”.It was previously thought the brand would bring its engine production to a close by the end of next year, but it is now unwilling to commit to a fixed end date. 

A self-charging Nissan Ariya concept has just been unveiled in the United Kingdom, with the in-built solar system capable of delivering up to 23km of range per day in ideal conditions.The car features a set of 3.8cm² solar photovoltaic panels on the bonnet, roof and tailgate, which converts sunlight into DC power. The panels were provided by a Dutch solar company called Lightyear, that worked on the first-ever solar-powered production car in 2019.Nissan said the technology can reduce charging frequency by up to 65 per cent.Solar technology allows for the car to be charged as it drives along, unlike conventional infrastructure. According to Nissan, a two-hour, 80km drive can produce 0.5kWh of charge, which adds up to nearly three kilometres of driving range.  Solar charging on cars poses practical challenges for manufacturers, needing to fit big enough panels to provide sufficient charge on a small surface area.Nissan notes the effectiveness of this solar charging is impacted by sun exposure available where the car is being driven.Dubai, for example, has high solar exposure, meaning the vehicle can generate an average of 21km of daily solar driving range, while in London that drops to 10km a day. Australia could benefit from solar charging, given its climate and the current electric vehicle charging infrastructure available. Australia has one of the highest solar exposure rates in the world, so it would offer some of the best conditions for this technology. It could ease the burden of EV charging infrastructure Down Under, with electric vehicles numbers ever-increasing, but chargers popping up at a slower rate. At this stage, Nissan’s new technology is only a concept, with just one example built so far. It also remains to be seen whether this type of charging can be offered at an affordable cost point and charge at a sufficiently effective rate. Other companies have been dabbling in solar charging cars in recent years.The Lightyear One was unveiled as the first-ever solar-powered car six years ago in the Netherlands, with its set-up offering 12km of range each hour in optimum conditions. The current Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid sold in the United States is available with an optional solar panel, which can add several kilometres of range each day. 

Autonomous driving in Australia is already here… sort of. But it should arrive in full by 2027.Most new cars offer some form of self-driving functionality, such as lane keep assist or adaptive cruise control.Tesla unveiled its 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' system late last year.Supervised is the key word because autonomous driving is not legal in Australia.According to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts, automated vehicles (AVs) can only operate in Australia under state or territory trial frameworks. There are currently no large-scale trials on Australian roads. Maybe not large-scale, but there are trials.A driverless bus taking passengers to and from the Darwin Waterfront was tried in 2017 and deemed "successful".There are also automated trucks working on mine sites in the north-west of Western Australia. So what is it going to take to see autonomous driving cars on our roads?Whose laws matter?Our driving laws are generally state-based. Your speeding fines go to the state you are in, not the Federal Government.Consequently, some inconsistencies exist between various state driving rules, notably fine amounts.Mostly though, driving laws are formed on the same basis: the Australian Road Rules.These are updated every couple of years, so in theory AVs rules could be slipped in, right? That is the plan according to Executive Leader, Regulatory Reform and Emerging Technologies at the National Transport Commission (NTC) Aaron de Rozario. The NTC has been commissioned to put together a regulatory system before we have AVs on the road.“We’ve got all the Australian governments involved in the process of deciding ‘yes, these are the road rules that apply to an automated driving scenario’,” de Rozario said. The NTC puts together these road rules and all transport ministers will vote on whether to approve, before implementing into respective state laws.A key proposal currently put forward from the NTC is to have a ‘Commonwealth in-service regulator’.The regular will aim to fuse federal and state responsibility on AVs.One of its main tasks will be due diligence on new AV technologies coming into Australia to determine whether safe operation can be demonstrated. Once AV technologies enter Australia, the regulator will investigate issues and complaints about programming and incidents concerning AVs. Who is responsible? AVs on Australian roads raise issues with the establishment of causation of accidents. The NTC will target clear distinctions on responsibility between drivers/passengers and the automated driving system. Some of those distinctions are simply resolved such as wearing a seatbelt. That responsibility rests with those travelling in the car. The complexity is apparent when considering post-accident liability. How to overcome these issues remains murky, with hard-and-fast solutions still some way off.“There is a bit of work determining what happens if there is a motor vehicle accident,” de Rozario said.“Drivers have certain legal responsibilities to take action and we need to work out what happens in the case of an automated vehicle and whether there are any responsibilities for passengers.”One solution being proposed is to clearly specify where and on which roads certain types of AVs can be used safely, and legally.Something that has been made clear is companies will not be able to escape responsibility for their AVs.Providers of automated driving systems will have to have a registered corporate presence in Australia.“We’re deliberately setting this up so there isn’t a ‘Sorry I’m overseas. I don’t need to comply with your law’.”This mandate facilitates the full application of the national corporations legislation onto directors of AV companies, giving authorities powers to enforce findings and decisions.It would include enforcement of duty of care and diligence principles, including criminal punishment for dishonest and reckless conduct. At this stage, AV conversations remain in a preliminary phase, with the ATC targeting 2027 for a system framework.Tesla’s latest technology represents a window into the future of AVs. But you should not expect to see someone reading a newspaper as their personally-owned car drives them to work in the morning anytime soon.The government says the framework "will enable conditional deployment of automated vehicles in select locations".Automated taxi systems remain the most likely to come to Australia first. “From what we see overseas, the two areas which are likely to be the first movers would be the robo-taxi model or an urban taxi rideshare service,” de Rozario said.“The other one that keeps coming up is freight and that could be parcel delivery type services.”