Articles by Tim Gibson

Ford has been hit with another recall notice, this time on some of its most popular variants.

The new-generation Toyota HiLux is among five models that have just learned their safety fate.

Toyota Australia’s only all-electric has just had its price massively slashed.

An updated version of an iconic hot hatch could be in the works.

A new all-electric SUV has been spotted in Australia.

A legendary sports car’s rebirth is in full swing. A federal government intellectual property filing has revealed Toyota’s legendary MR2 could make a return to Australia, after the Japanese company trademarked the name ‘MR2’ Down Under. The news comes after the brand filed the trademark ‘GR MR2’ in the Japan Patent Office’s information platform last week. The Aussie filing fuels speculation of the return of a coupe sports car from Toyota bearing one of its iconic nameplates, with rumours of it being either the Celica or the MR2. Last year, Toyota Australia lodged a trademark for the Celica name down under, which brought about expectations of it being the revived Toyota coupe rumoured. This recent trademark request pushes the MR2 name to the front of the line as the feisty coupe to make its return to Australia, not Celica. The MR2’s previous existence spanned more than three decades, with production ending in 2007. It was famed for its sports car pedigree, with a sleek two-door design. Being mid-engined and rear-wheel drive, it offered potential for some performance and racing capabilities on a budget, compared to the big hitters of the sports car industry.While Toyota has not revealed any technical details, it looks like the MR2 will receive a modern upgrade upon its return, with some of the brand’s finest hybrid tech. It could be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, producing 370kW and 550Nm, with an all-wheel drive system. Another federal government IP filing shows an application for ‘GR MR-S’ to be trademarked by the brand in Australia. This opens the door to a second option. The future sports car could wear the GR MR-S badge, as the old MR2 was called MR-S in Japan.Or it could be a more potent version of the MR2 and fall under a potential new Gazoo Racing (GR) sub brand. Toyota's recently revealed V8-powered GR GT hinted at the formation of a new high-performance brand to rival Hyundai's N, and the MR2 could be a potent new weapon in its arsenal.It could also be Toyota is merely cornering off potential claims to its iconic nameplates as its revived sports car develops. It is unknown when we could expect the return of this two-door sports car from Toyota, but it is still in its infancy, with a rumoured launch in 2028. 

Like all batteries, those in EVs degrade over time, and eventually are unable to hold the driving range necessary to make them useful in the vehicle.

A new plug-in hybrid 4WD is coming.

We just got a closer look at a revamped compact SUV. Kia has released an official teaser video for its new-generation Seltos. The video runs for 27 seconds, so we do not get a comprehensive look at the new Seltos, but do get some key details. In the absence of full body shots of the car, the video focuses on specific elements of the exterior design. The car in the photos is an all-wheel drive version of the Seltos, bearing the ‘4X’ badging on the back. It gets a boxy overall design, and it is similar to what is found on the brand’s all-electric EV3 small SUV, and in keeping with the just-unveiled Telluride three-row SUV. It features a curious light design, with a light strip that runs along the length of the boot. Other elements include a rear spoiler, alluding to a sleek design, and hidden door handles.It is anticipated the new-generation Seltos will get a hybrid power set-up for the first time ever. This hybrid is likely to have the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor found in its sister car, the Hyundai Kona, producing a combined 104kW and 265Nm. It has not been confirmed where the new Australian Seltos will be built, with Kia capable of producing the car in either India or South Korea.It is likely that the Aussie version will continue to be built in South Korea to share the K3 platform also found on the Kona. The Seltos is currently available in Australia exclusively with a petrol engine. A hybrid set-up would bring it into line with much of Kia’s range, which has undergone a sustained hybrid shift. The brand recently unveiled a more comprehensive range of HEVs and PHEVs for its larger Sorento, with a now 20-strong variant lineup for the SUV. The Seltos is still battling to recapture its status as a strong seller in the Aussie market’s busy small SUV category. It sits behind many of its rivals, selling less than 9000 units so far in 2025. It trails its sister car the Kona, with MG’s ZS and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro among other better sellers. Its rumoured starting price in its native South Korean market is roughly 20 million won, which is around $21,000, but it will endure a bit of a tax-related price hike when it hits Australia. The new-generation Seltos will be officially unveiled tomorrow, with an Australian launch date in the second half of 2026.

BYD's hot hatch updated - but when will we see it in Oz?