Articles by Tim Gibson

A new exciting ute could be in the works.  Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis are exploring the potential of introducing a Defender-branded full-size pick-up in the United States, according to The Times.  The pair announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2026 “to explore opportunities to collaborate on product development” in the US.  JLR confirmed it would pursue a range of new products under the Defender brand specifically designed for the US market.  The MoU includes product and technology development, with a Defender-badged ute potentially the first new car of this partnership.  JLR’s partnership with Stellantis shows the iconic brand wants to take the US market seriously.  Its Defender SUV is a popular seller in the US, but it’s subject to heavy import tariffs, limiting profitability for Land Rover in a key market.  JLR wants to prioritise the US market to capitalise on rising luxury car demand and the brand's growing popularity there.  “Our aspiration in the coming years is to grow our US business to the size of the entire JLR business as it exists today,” JLR CEO PB Balaji said in a June 2026 statement. Full-size pick-ups are some of the most popular cars on sale in North America, so this model could be a huge hit if it gets off the ground. Plans are still at an early stage for the JLR Stellantis ute, but they are expected to be finalised before the end of 2026.  The ute is likely to be built in the United States to avoid the high import tariffs. There is no confirmation on whether the new ute will use the Land Rover Defender’s existing D7x architecture or a specific ute platform from Stellantis’ Jeep or Ram.  The current Defender rides on a car-based monocoque chassis that is not used on any ute models, but it features a rigid structure like on traditional ladder frame 4WD set-ups.  Jeep and Ram have more ready-made ute chassis options, with the Ram 1500’s DT platform or the Jeep Wrangler’s JL platform a streamlined fit.  Any Australian prospects are a long way down the line for this ute.  It will be initially targeted at the US market, so it will only be built in left-hand drive, reducing its chances of going on sale Down Under.  Key full-size pick-up trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 are remanufactured in Australia to be right-hand drive.  The Stellantis-built Ram 1500 also undergoes this remanufacturing process, meaning this new ute model could follow a similar path. 

The now repealed Marketing of Potatoes Act 1946 from Western Australia prohibited transporting more than 50kg of potatoes. Clearly it was an obscure law that may have been relevant at the time, but there are plenty more quirky road rules in Australia. What are some of the road rules still in force that you might not expect? How does the law answer some of those burning questions around driving? Here are three unusual examples. The answer to this question can be found in the Road Rules 2014 in New South Wales, specifically s 297. Under (1), a driver is required to have “proper control of the vehicle”. What does that mean? Well, its vagueness is deliberate by design to cover many situations. While it is not expressly against the law to eat while driving, if it impedes a driver’s capacity to have proper control over their vehicle, it constitutes an offence. The penalties can be hefty as well. Up to 20 penalty units, which equates to $2200.  Your fate rests with the discretion of the police officer who catches you. So your indicator stops working. What do you do?  Luckily s 50 of the Road Rules has you covered. And they’ve even got diagrams. If you want to turn right, stick your arm out of the driver’s window straight.  If you want to turn left, well the law doesn’t specify that, so you’re on your own with that one. The law can help out if your brake lights aren’t working under s 55.  Extend your arm out of the driver side window and place it at a right angle, keeping your elbow parallel to the base of the window.  Do note though, it is illegal to travel in a motor vehicle with any part of the person’s body outside a window or door under s 268(3), unless signalling to turn right or slow down (3)(b). That will also set you back up to $2200.  Just because you are driving past a bus passenger in your car does not give you the right to splash mud on them in New South Wales. Under s 291(3), a driver must slow down or stop their vehicle to prevent splashing mud on anyone getting on or off a bus.  It also covers passengers actually on the bus and those waiting at a bus stop.  Expect to pay up to $2200 for this offence.

Chery’s affordable electric SUV has been given a vital upgrade in Australia. Chery has announced its E5 small SUV will introduce a range of changes as part of its 2027 model year update. The E5 tackles other budget-friendly electric SUV choices the BYD Atto 3 and the sales-surging Jaecoo J5. The car will be shown off for the first time in Australia on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney. The new E5 will offer the same performance as its outgoing model, using a single electric motor that produces 155kW and 288Nm. It’s equipped with a 59kWh battery, offering a driving range of up to 430km, according to WLTP standards.  Inside, the E5 now boasts a 15.6-inch central touchscreen compared to the dual 12.3-inch touchscreen and driver display set-up on previous examples.  It retains an eight-speaker audio system as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.  Front seats feature four-way power lumbar support and seat ventilation, while the driver seat has massage functionality.  The car comes as standard with an auto-dimming mirror. From the outside, there is now an electrically-operated charging port cover, and active grille shutter, while the car continuing to ride on 18-inch wheels.  While there is no official showroom arrival date for the updated E5 yet, it is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2026. Chery said official pricing will be announced closer to the car’s local arrival, however, the current E5 line-up underwent a reshuffle earlier in 2026. In April 2026, Chery ditched the entry level variant of the E5, and cut the price of the remaining single variant down from $40,990, before on-road costs to $37,990, drive-away. Buyers can expect the E5 will remain pricier than its petrol- and hybrid-powered C5 siblings, starting from $28,990 and $31,990 (drive-away), respectively. It will need to be competitive with the the BYD Atto 3, starting from $41,990, before on-road costs and Jaecoo J5 EV that starts from $36,990, drive-away.

A former prime minister is backing Australia’s carmaking industry to make a triumphant return.  Kevin Rudd told the National Press Club on September 10, 2026 new technologies available could return the industry to its former glory.  Australia used to have a thriving car industry, with it being one of the biggest manufacturing hubs globally.  Ford, Holden and Toyota all had major operations in Australia, spanning across decades.  The Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore dominated the sales charts during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.  Even the Tesla Model Y’s more than 8000 sales in a single month in June 2026 couldn’t eclipse the Commodore's single-month record set more than two decades ago. The federal government’s withdrawal of subsidies in 2013 in combination with increasing costs and decreasing profits saw carmakers pull out of Australian manufacturing.  There are now no cars built on a commercial scale in Australia, leaving the country reliant on imports. Rudd said the then federal government’s decision to remove subsidies was the final blow to the industry.  Australia’s 26th prime minister also praised the previous strength of the car industry, describing it as a “sovereign capability we are sorely missing”.  “Of all the short-sighted acts of economic vandalism in recent decades, the closure of our car industry by the Abbott-Hockey government stands apart,” Rudd said.  “Australia under my government had one of the most modest industry subsidies in the auto world.  “But politics triumphed over reason, sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs, tearing the beating heart out of Australia’s engineering and manufacturing base, and rendering us 100% dependent on auto imports.” Rudd said that developing new technologies in the car industry could reignite interest in it.  “Now the 3D printing and EV revolutions mean we can rebuild an Australian auto sector and repair this fatal vulnerability in our national security,” Rudd said.  3D printing is now an essential part of virtually every carmaker’s manufacturing processes. It can develop model prototypes quickly and improve assembly processes, among other things. It is also used for creating complex moulds in gigacasting - a process where die-casting machines shape large single-piece car body parts instead of individual steel welds.  Some popular EVs rely on gigacasting in production, including the best-selling Tesla Model Y.  Australia could become an EV hub of the future by investing in this technology.

Geely’s electric Zeekr 7X rival has just got a game-changing update.  The new-generation Geely EX5 mid-size SUV will launch in China on 21 September 2026, according to reports. It has appeared Chinese government filings as the Geely E5. The EX5 has proved popular with Australian car buyers in 2026, featuring among the top 10 best-sellers for August as electric car sales overtook petrol and diesel individually for the time.  It poses a serious threat to established mid-size petrol- and hybrid-powered SUV favourites the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. It also takes on the BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X and GAC Aion V in the electric SUV space.  The EX5 measures up similarly to the Toyota RAV4 hybrid that maintains its place high up the sales charts.  The big change on the new EX5 is a shift from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive, providing boosts to performance and practicality.  RWD can provide a car with improved handling and better weight distribution. The RWD EX5 will be powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 245kW, compared to the 160kW on the model currently on sale in Australia. This increased power has boosted the top speed to 201km/h compared to 175km/h.  It will continue to be equipped with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery. It's unclear whether this will be different to the current version's 68kWh unit, which delivers 475km (WLTP) of range.  The move to RWD has also opened up a new front trunk space, with a maximum load capacity of 50kg, but its storage capacity is unknown at this stage. The EX5 is 21mm longer than its outgoing model, but otherwise takes on similar proportions.  Geely has added more safety features to the EX5, including fender side-mounted cameras and a roof spoiler-integrated camera.  Geely hasn't officially confirmed any details around the new EX5 or when it might arrive. Geely has big plans for Australia and will introduce several new models Down Under over the next year, but it’s unclear whether the new EX5 is one of those.  The last update to the EX5 came in March 2026 when it received the larger 68kWh battery. News of that variant dropped in May 2025, with its Australia release coming roughly 10 months later. This means buyers could get their hands on the new EX5 in mid-2027. The EX5 currently starts from $41,990 (before on-road costs), but this new model is likely to incur a price hike on that figure when it arrives here.

Aussie buyers have a new 4WD to think about. The Mitsubishi Pajero will launch in Australia with great anticipation in December 2026 when the revived 4WD hits showrooms.  Mitsubishi has revealed pricing and specifications for its new model, but how does it stack up to key rivals in the segment? It will face the most fierce competition with the popular Toyota Prado and Ford Everest, so here is how it shapes up against those popular options.  The Pajero squeezes under the $70,000 mark, starting from $68,490, which is cheaper than the Toyota Prado, but more expensive than both Ford Everest variants. It continues to undercut the Prado up the grades, with its Exceed starting from $79,990, while the GSR starts from $84,990. The Prado's $73,200 starting price is $4710 more than the base five-seater Pajero ($68,490), with Prado pricing extending to $100,620 on the top grade. The Pajero’s cheapest seven-seater variant is $69,990, more than $10,000 cheaper than the Prado's base seven-seater ($80,665).  Both 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre Everest base variants are cheaper than the Pajero and the Prado.  The Everest 2.0 starts from $58,990, with prices increasing up to $71,990, while the Everest 3.0 kicks off from $66,990, with the top-spec grade starting from $83,417. The Pajero’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine matches the Prado for power at 150kW, but its 480Nm, is just shy of the 500Nm total in its Toyota rival.  The Pajero also has more performance than the 2.0-litre Everest, but the 3.0-litre Everest is the pick of the bunch for outright power with 184kW and 600Nm.  All four competitors boast the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity.  Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed the Pajero’s fuel efficiency, so we don’t know how it compares to its rivals.  It will need to offer below 8.0L/100km to be competitive. The closely-related Triton offers as little as 7.5L/100km, so it could beat that figure.  The Pajero comes with a rear differential lock and low-range transfer case on all grades as part of its permanent 4WD system. The Prado has a permanent 4WD system, but a locking rear differential is only found on a higher grade of the car. All 4x4 grades of the Ford Everest feature a rear differential lock and a permanent 4WD system. The Pajero's approach and departure angles are similar to the Everest's, along with a competitive ground clearance figure. The Prado's 17.0-degree departure angles is significantly less than the Pajero and Everest, as is its 210mm ground clearance. The Pajero has a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, while higher grades are equipped with dual 14.3-inch display. This beats the Everest’s standard 8.0-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch touchscreen. All Prado grades match the Pajero’s 12.3-inch central unit, but it only has a 7.0-inch driver display as standard.  The Pajero has waterproof black fabric seat trim to start, mirroring other standard fabrics in its rivals. Leather seat trim is available for all further up the range.  The Pajero boasts a 10-year/200,000-kilometre conditional warranty, when services are completed on time at Mitsubishi dealers. If buyers opt not to service at Mitsubishi, warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee.  It is also available with a 10-year capped price servicing deal, but we don’t know how much it will cost yet. All new Ford Everests bought from 1 September 2026 are now covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Ford offers a capped price servicing deal on the Everest of $1596 for the first five years, working out at $319 per annual service.  Toyota also offers capped price servicing, for either three or five years, with servicing every six months.  The Prado is available with Toyota’s five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to seven years for engine and driveline when the car is serviced at dealers. 

Audi has slashed the price on one of its EVs in Australia, in a win for buyers.  The Audi Q6 e-tron electric mid-size SUV now starts from $89,900 (before on-road costs) - $10,000 reduction on the previous model. That means the base version is now eligible for the full FBT exemption until April 1 next year, when it reduces to just a 25 per cent FBT exemption. It also skirts under the Luxury Car Tax threshold. The SQ6 e-tron performance SUV has seen an even steeper price drop of more than $20,000, with it now starting from $129,900, compared to $151,400.  Coupe variants are available from $134,900, down from $156,400, which is a $21,500 reduction as well.  Updated pricing sees the 2027 Q6 e-tron priced from the same as the BMW iX3 ($89,900) and substantially cheaper than the Porsche Macan ($129,800).  A sport edition variant of the currently 2026 model Q6 e-tron is available from $95,900 (drive-away) on cars ordered until October 2026.  The sport edition variant is available from now until October 2026, with deliveries on the new Q6 e-tron and SQ6 e-tron beginning in 2027.  The Audi Q6 e-tron comes with a single electric motor, producing up to 215kW and 450Nm to the rear wheels. It’s equipped with an 83kWh battery, offering a driving range of up to 485km, according to WLTP standards.  The SQ6 e-tron adds another electric motor and all-wheel drive, boosting performance to 380kW and 855Nm, meaning the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds.  The car uses a bigger 100kWh battery to offer a driving range of 586km (WLTP).  Both variants are capable of DC charging at more than 200kW, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking roughly 20 minutes. The Q6 can charge at 225kW, while the SQ6 can charge at 270kW. Both variants get an 11.9-inch digital driver display and 14.5-inch curved central touchscreen, along with a 10.9-inch passenger touchscreen as standard. All variants ride on 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, but the SQ6 e-tron shows off 21-inch examples.  The car is fitted with sports seats wrapped in leather-appointed upholstery, with the front ones electrically adjustable and heated.  It comes as standard with a 10-speaker audio system that is upgraded to a 16-speaker unit in the SQ6 e-tron that also adds a head-up display.  The Q6 e-tron features a black exterior styling package as standard that sees front and rear bumpers painted in black. All variants are covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre manufacturers warranty, as well as a 12-year warranty against corrosion perforation.  

Omoda is getting serious in Australia. The Chery sub-brand has announced it will reveal its Omoda 4 and Omoda 7 SUVs on the 18th of September 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney. The Omoda 4 is a small SUV that will sit at the bottom of the brand’s Australian line-up, while the Omoda 7 is a mid-size SUV, still sitting under the Omoda 9 large SUV on sale here. The Omoda 9 is currently the only model sporting an Omoda badge in Australia, but that's all about to change. This news comes after Omoda Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz confirmed to CarsGuide the brand was forced to push back its plans for Omoda 7 in Australia, with the car initially expected to arrive in 2026. “We’ll definitely be focusing more on the Omoda brand later this year and into early next year ,” Munoz told CarsGuide in June 2026. “Right now our focus is on building the Jaecoo brand, building awareness and building confidence in the market with that, but Omoda will be following suit shortly.” The Omoda 4 is just gearing up for its global launch, so official details are scarce at this stage. Omoda’s small SUV will take on the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross in Australia, adding a new hybrid rival to the very competitive segment. The Omoda 4 measures up on the larger side of the small SUV scale. In the UK, it is expected to use a conventional hybrid set-up with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor. A fully-electric variant will follow after that. The Omoda 4 EV is currently under consideration for Australia.  The Omoda 7 provides direct competition for established mid-sized SUVs, including the segment-leading Toyota RAV4 as well as the Hyundai Tucson. It will face internal rivalry from other Chery group models the Chery Tiggo 7 and Jaecoo J7, but could be more expensive than both of those models. The Omoda 7 is already available in the United Kingdom, where it is offered with the choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid power. This should provide an indication of what to expect with the car in Australia. PHEV variants employ a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor set-up, making 150kW/365Nm, while the petrol set-up uses a 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine, producing 108kW/275Nm. The petrol-powered variant will not be offered in Australia.  Inside, there is a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 8.88-inch digital driver display, along with wireless 50W phone charging. Omoda has confirmed that both cars will arrive in the first half of 2027, with official pricing and specification arriving closer to its launch date. Both the Omoda 4 and the Omoda 7 will be cheaper than the Omoda 9 that starts from $61,990 (before on-road costs) in Australia. The Omoda 7 PHEV starts from 29,965 pounds or roughly $56,000, but cars in the UK are substantially more expensive than their Australian equivalent. It is more likely to be available from the low-to-mid $40,000 bracket. The Omoda 4 will be cheaper than the Omoda 7, placing it in a similar spot to the Jaecoo J5 hybrid ($34,990, drive-away).

GWM has revealed its new Land Rover Defender and Mitsubishi Pajero rival. GWM’s premium sub-brand Wey recently teased a new rugged-looking SUV called the Blue Mountain on social media. Wey is already on its way to Australia, with the V9X full-size SUV and 80 people mover expected to be the first models to launch here. A smaller V8X SUV could also be on its way, but the brand has not confirmed an arrival yet. Wey describes the Blue Mountain SUV as a “luxurious box-shaped” vehicle. It should provide competition for the Toyota Prado and the upcoming Mitsubishi Pajero. It is also likely to take on key Chinese rivals the Denza B5 and B8 that went on sale in Australia in late 2025, as well as Chery's Freelander sub-brand. Wey is GWM’s answer to Europe’s high-end luxury SUVs Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX and Range Range Rover. Wey has not revealed any technical specifications about the Blue Mountain. Its boxy design emphasises a sharp roofline that sits flush to a swing-open tailgate. It also has a spare tyre mounted to the tailgate, and large racks fitted to the roof to highlight its adventuring potential.  The rear light design is split up into two separate square-like clusters on each side. Its side profile is similar to the plug-in hybrid Haval H10 that could be on the cards for Australia in the future. This means the Blue Mountain will ride on the next-generation GWM One platform, and will likely feature a powerful plug-in hybrid set-up.  The design differs from Wey’s V8X and V9X SUVs that appear to be more targeted towards luxury-focused buyers.  This model should provide luxury adventure-focused buyers with a potentially cheaper alternative to the Land River Defender, but expect more details before the end of 2026.  GWM is still planning to launch the Wey sub-brand in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the V9X SUV and 80 people mover coming first. Those modesl will be followed by further expansion to the line-up in 2027. There is potential for the Blue Mountain to launch in Australia as part of Wey's expanded Australian line-up, but we should learn more when the brand officially launches here. 

Kia’s updated family SUV is edging closer to Australia. More details of the new-generation Kia Sportage are starting to appear as it gears up to reignite its rivalry with the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4. The Kia Sportage shares many of its underpinnings with the closely-related Hyundai Tucson that has just been revealed with a bold new design overseas, which gives us clues on what to expect. The new Sportage could have some big changes in store as Kia prepares to unveil its new family SUV. The Sportage is currently available in Australia with petrol, diesel and conventional hybrid set-ups. Kia has been placing increased emphasis on hybrid power in Australia as it grapples with the impacts of potential fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). Kia announced its smaller Seltos SUV would only be a hybrid-only model to appease emissions rules, ditching its petrol-only variant in Australia. The Sportage should follow the same path. Hybrid Sportage variants are more popular compared to petrol and diesel versions, which should light the way forward for the Korean brand to go hybrid-only. Kia also introduced a cheaper hybrid grade of the Sportage earlier this year, further expanding its petrol-electric lineup. The current hybrid Sportage uses a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and electric motor, making 169kW and 350Nm. It's realistic to expect the Sportage will employ a similar set-up when it arrives here. Digital renders from artist AutoYa on YouTube show the Sportage with a sharp new look, featuring distinctive creases across the front and sides of the car. It also has a continuous vertical and horizontal front light bar in a similar design to the one on the new-generation Seltos. The new Sportage will also get a different look inside that could feature Hyundai group’s snappy new multimedia system as in the Tucson. Official pricing news remains a while away, but the current hybrid Sportage range kicks off from $44,450, before on-road costs. The Sportage will need to continue to be competitive with the new-generation Toyota RAV4 hybrid ($45,990) and the current Hyundai Tucson hybrid ($42,850). It's too early to say exactly when the new Sportage will land Down Under. It could run on a similar timeline to the Seltos that was announced in late 2025, before officially launching in late 2026.   If Kia reveal more details on the new Sportage later this year, we can expect the Sportage to arrive in late 2027.