1989 Ford Corsair Reviews

There’s no denying that utes are very popular as platforms for adventure touring and off-roading.However, spend any time on our nation’s road and you see just as many, if not more, vans being used as the conveyance of choice for weekend wanderers, big road trippers, and the like – afterall, #vanlife is not a hashtag for nothing.So, does a van have greater potential than a ute as an adventure vehicle?Read on.A van, even an all-wheel drive van, is not as well set-up for off-roading as a 4WD ute, no matter how impressive the marketing for the van is or how often they mention “adventure” in the advertising.But, if hard-core off-roading is not part of your plan, a van has plenty to offer.In terms of engine and transmission, power and torque outputs, driver-assist technology and day-to-day useability, vans and utes are fairly even.But it’s in the areas of 4WD set-up, ground clearance, off-road angles and load-space where the major difference lies between utes and vans.A 4WD ute, by rights, is the better off-roader and should always have better off-road driver-assist tech, ground clearance, off-road angles, and wheel travel than a van.Again, if difficult off-roading is not part of your plan, then these issues (above) don’t matter – and, besides, a van is better set up for use as a live-in adventure platform largely because of its load space.A ute’s tub/tray, as standard, is not closed in so the extent of your packing is not limited by your vehicle’s roof-line – as it is in a van – because a ute’s tub/tray doesn’t have a roof. You can load beyond the top edge of a ute’s tub, and tall or awkwardly shaped loads aren’t a problem.However, unless a ute has a lockable cover on its tub/tray, security from thieves and protection from the elements remain a serious issue. Thankfully, numerous examples of OEM or aftermarket tub coverings are available (hard or soft tonneau covers, roller shutters, aluminium lids etc) for utes.Or you can buy an aftermarket canopy to be fixed to your ute tub, and some of those options are lockable. The problem is a canopy is not an engineered-at-vehicle-origin solution, so while it offers much better security, water- and dust-proofing than having no cover at all, it’s no match for a van’s factory built-in load space. Vans have plenty of positives for adventure in their favour, even as standard.Take, for instance, the Ford Transit Custom Trail, which has been designed for use as an adventure vehicle. The Trail can be optioned as a two-seater with hard-wearing plastic everywhere – ready for the messiness of work and life – as well as charge points (USB-A and -C) and storage (including a van-favourite dash-top slot for logbooks etc, outboard moulded cupholders and a nifty pop-out cupholder).The load space includes access via a barn door at the rear and the Trail can be optioned up to have a sliding door on both sides.The cargo area is substantial – 3002mm long (to the bulkhead; 3450mm long if load-through hatch is used), 1392mm wide (between wheel arches) and 1425mm high (floor to roof). Easily big enough for work equipment or recreational gear. It can cope with four Euro pallets (1200mm x 800mm each) and it has a listed maximum load volume (with the bulkhead) of 6.8 cubic metres.Load height through the rear barn doors is 531-585mm, depending on how much weight (driver, passenger etc) is already onboard.The load space has a metal bulkhead (with window and load-through hatch), load area protection kit (full height walls and moulded floor), LED lights and eight tie-down loops.Payloads in vans can range upwards of 1000kg, while payloads in utes (e.g. a single-cab) can be upwards of about 1000kg. (US pick-ups can manage more – with listed payloads of 1759kg and up – but in this yarn mainstream utes are the focus.)But a van’s rear load space could be considered a distinct advantage – or at least a major point of difference – over a ute.A van can be big, for example the cargo space in a 2021 long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Vito 116 is 3061mm long, 1709mm wide, and 1391mm high; with 1265mm between the rear wheel-arches, so a 1165mm standard Australian pallet will easily slot in. Official cargo volume in the Vito is 6.6 square metres.Vans are built to carry loads and as such there is plenty of space in the rear, and amenities back there include tie-down points (with which to secure your load), lighting systems (halogen or LED), wood panelling on the interior walls and rear door, rubber or vinyl matting, or other grippy protective surface on the floor of the cargo area, and even power points.The load spaces in vans are ripe for customisation to house bedding, and extra storage for an adventurous person or couple.And the rear load space may provide open access to the driver and front passengers(s), or it may be separated from the cabin of the van by a bulkhead with a built-in cargo barrier.Access to that fully secure load space may be via sliding doors on either side of the van or by using the rear door, which might be 180°-opening rear twin barn doors (with window), or a single lift-up tailgate, and either of those can be fully locked open so a forklift can be used to place a heavier load in the cargo area.So while there’s no problem with permitted access, the load space is fully lockable, so theoretically secure, and the contents may be concealed.The cabins of utes and vans are similar in that they can be set up as mobile offices, with an immediate ease of use and comfort as priorities: think cloth seats, durable plastic surfaces and storage spaces aplenty including a lockable glovebox, dash-top slots (for log books, general paperwork etc) as well as door pockets and bottle-holder, a cup-holder at each end of the dash, and a centre console bin.With fuel prices so high, is a van more appealing than a ute in terms of how much fuel it will use?As a sweeping generalisation, vans are regarded as offering better fuel economy than utes, especially around town (with approximate average fuel use of 6.5–9.5L/100km), but utes are more aerodynamic than vans, so may produce better fuel-use figures in combined travel, for example, highway, bush tracks etc (with approximate average fuel use of 8.5–11.0L/100km (diesel); or 10L/100km, petrol).Vans may be lighter than utes, especially sans load, but weight and aerodynamics will change dramatically when either vehicle has undergone the fitment of aftermarket equipment (say, a bullbar, roof rack, storage pod etc) and/or a fit-out for camping and touring.Rather than DIYing your own home-away-from-home, an option well worth considering is going for a pre-built camper and using off-the shelf outfitters. The chances are – unless you’re very handy on the tools – building a rig yourself will take up a lot of your time, will likely incur additional expenses and is far less convenient for you than a built-to-order van.Sydney-based Aussie company Trakka is a fine example of a business whose sole focus is to produce top-quality purpose-built adventure-travel vehicles. Trakka is a family-owned and -run boutique business established in Sydney in 1973, and specialises in the Australian design and conversion of motorhomes, campervans and special-purpose vehicles.Its wide range of products includes the latest-generation Akuna range with the MY25 spec.The Akuna is based on the Volkswagen Crafter mid-wheelbase van, and is equipped with advanced safety and comfort features, updated multimedia system, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine (130kW/410Nm), and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It is available with VW 4Motion all wheel drive or front wheel drive.Akuna highlights include 5120Wh (10,000Wh and 15,000Wh options) total energy storage, AC 4000W / DC 840W total output power, an 800w solar roof set-up, high-tech fibreglass reinforced thermoplastic composite material, vinyl rubber-backed floor covering, maximum storage overhead lockers, 170L fridge/freezer, integrated 140L fresh- and 80L grey-water tanks built across the vehicle for more even weight distribution, a 15L hot water tank, and switch-operated electronic grey-water dump valve.The Akuna, as standard, is 6840mm long, 2720mm high and 2050mm wide and has 200mm of ground clearance.GVM is 4000kg and towing capacity is 3000kg.So, that’s a home away from home on wheels and ready for action.Is it time to re-think your ute purchase? Is a van or ute best for adventure? Ultimately, it comes down to which one best suits your lifestyle, but increasingly a van makes the stronger case of the two as an all-purpose adventure and touring vehicle.

The car landscape has dramatically changed in the past 10 years, with new brands entering the fray and dynamic market conditions shifting buyer wants.Data from 2016 shows how different the cars were captivating the attention of Aussies only a decade ago.The Toyota HiLux led the way, and the Ford Ranger was not far behind, but there was a theme of hatchbacks dominating the other top places. The Toyota Corolla took out second place, while the Hyundai i30 was in third and the Mazda3 sat in fifth. Toyota continued to feature down the list with the Camry sedan, followed by the Australian built Holden Commodore. Further down list, the SUV revolution can be seen to take shape in Australia, starting with the Mazda CX-5. After the Mitsubishi Triton ute in ninth place, there were three SUVs in the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-3.The best-selling brands in 2016 has changed a lot compared to today. Toyota is still parked up at the top of the charts, but several big names have now been replaced by Chinese carmakers.Mazda and Hyundai occupied second and third, while Holden secured fourth. The Japanese duo of Mitsubishi and Nissan followed next, with Volkswagen being the only European brand in the top 10 after that. Subaru came ninth in the standings, with Kia finishing in 10th, highlighting the brand’s rapid development in Australia. Top selling cars 2016 Top selling brands 2016 In 2021, there were clear changes to the market, but also some consistent themes.The HiLux and Ranger duopoly was in full swing at the top of the standings, with Toyota’s ute still edging Ford’s.Third position showed SUVs were taking over as the RAV4 picked up a huge chunk of sales.There were still examples of a past market, with the i30 and the Toyota Corolla hatches sandwiching the D-Max ute.Further down, SUVs increase their presence further, with the Mazda CX-5, Toyota Prado and MG ZS all making up the top 10, along with the Triton ute. Pure internal combustion power remained a dominant player, with best-sellers such as the RAV4 and Corolla still yet to make its full hybrid transition. Top selling cars 2021 Toyota was still on top as a brand in Australia, while Mazda and Hyundai continued their holding in the top three. Ford was hot on the heels of Hyundai, followed by Kia which had surged up the sales charts in five years to claim a spot in the top five. Mitsubishi and Nissan still occupied high places in the standings as did Volkswagen. The big shift was the appearance of the only Chinese brand in the top 10, in MG. This foreshadowed what we see today where BYD is fast approaching a potential top-two finish in Australia.Subaru picked up a 10th place finish. Top selling brands 2021 Fast forward to 2026, and only three top 10 sellers from 2016 remain. The Ranger and HiLux continue their battle at the top of the standings, but they are in decline.Some unfamiliar names a few years ago are emerging as top choices for Aussie motorists.The Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV has emerged as the best-selling SUV in 2026 to date.Hyundai's Kona is next on the list followed by the D-Max Ute.Mitsubishi's Outlander large SUV is sitting sixth, while the long-awaited launch of the new Toyota RAV4 has resulted in a burst of sales for the popular family car.The Mazda CX-5 remains a regular feature at the top of the sales charts, with GWM's Haval Jolion sitting in ninth currently.Rounding out the top 10 is Ford Everest.This data only represents the first four months of the year, but it does show the general trends of where the market is headed.Top selling cars 2026 (up to April)Top selling brands 2026 (up to April)There are no surprises in the top four best-selling brands so far, with Toyota out in front, followed by Mazda, Kia and Ford.A monster month from BYD has pushed the Chinese giant brand into fifth, overtaking Hyundai. This is despite the brand not having a single car in the top 10 best sellers.The final four highlight the success of Chinese brands in Australia as GWM, Chery and MG are all present, along with Mitsubishi.Former mainstays Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen are gone, and Holden has closed up shop completely.

A few weeks ago we looked at the wrong cars that arrived at the wrong time.The likes of the Holden Commodore ZB, Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Tesla Cybertruck that flopped and were always destined to flop.This time around we’re being more positive and taking a look at those cars that have arrived at precisely the right moment. We’ve also kept it more relevant, with several recent arrivals making our list - plus a few old favourites.Let us know in the comments or on social media if we got it right or if you think we missed some obvious examples of the right car at the right time.MG4 UrbanFew cars have launched at such an optimum time as MG’s latest. This small hatch costs less than a Toyota Corolla Hybrid but is all-electric, meaning you’re saving money on the purchase price and then (in theory) on the running costs.Hitting Australian roads the same month petrol prices started to spike and interest in electric vehicles (EVs) surged, MG may have given Australian customers exactly what they want.It’s too early to tell if it will be a sales success or not, so we may end up looking wrong in hindsight, but all signs point to it being a prime example of the right car at the right time.BYD Shark 6To many observers the idea of a plug-in hybrid dual-cab ute was a foolish one. The ute market is dominated by diesels and BYD’s radical concept was going to fall flat on its face.It turns out those observers were dead wrong. The Shark 6 has proven to be an immediate sales success, as ute buyers have embraced its combination of electric and turbocharged petrol power.Its early success was helped by fringe benefit tax breaks, but its on-going popularity suggests there has been a shift in the buying habits of Australian ute customers.Chery Tiggo 4 ProWe didn’t say this was a list of the ‘best cars’, because the Tiggo 4 Pro has its flaws, but it is another prime example of a car brand filling a gap in the market at precisely the right moment.The diminutive SUV has become a runaway sales hit for the Chinese brand for one key reason - value. It may not be perfect, but with a starting price of $23,990 drive-away it is one of the most-affordable new cars you can buy.At that price it doesn’t have to be flawless, and Chery has had no trouble finding buyers that have been priced out by the likes of Toyota, Hyundai and Ford, looking for their first new car.Holden Commodore VBRising oil prices driving petrol prices to new heights and creating a surge in demand for smaller, more efficient models - sounds familiar, right? I’m not talking about 2026, I’m talking about the 1979 energy crisis and the arrival of the then-new Holden Commodore.Smaller and more fuel-efficient than the Kingswood it replaced, the Commodore was just what Australian buyers were looking for at that point. The original VB Commodore became an almost-immediate sales leader for Holden, setting the legacy that continued for more than four decades.Ford Ranger (T6)When Ford launched the new, Australian-developed Ranger in 2011 the sales charts were dominated by small cars. The Mazda3 was the best-seller that year and the Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Hyundai i30 were all amongst the top six.We didn’t know it then, but the T6 Ranger was about to radically alter the Australian automotive landscape. By 2013 it was inside the top 10 sellers and within five years it was locked into the top five most popular models.It has since gone on to topple the beloved Toyota HiLux, not only as Australia’s favourite ute, but as Australia’s favourite new vehicle.Whether Ford predicted it or not, the more refined, family-friendly Ranger was just what people were looking for. The Ranger effectively replaced the Falcon in Ford Australia’s line-up (and likely in plenty of driveways) as the ute evolved from workhorse to family favourite.

A new ute price war is forming as rivals pile in to battle the smash hit petrol-electric ute of the past 18 months.The BYD Shark 6 ute’s arrival in Australia in late 2024 was a moment in time for the local new vehicle market, with the petrol, dual-motor powered plug-in hybrid (PHEV) soon upsetting the seemingly rock solid Ford Ranger / Toyota HiLux duopoly at the top of the 4x4 ute category.Soon enough, Ford introduced its own take on the petrol-electric plug-in ute formula with the Ranger PHEV hitting showrooms mid-last year.But so far it’s barely made a blip on the new vehicle radar map, to the point where ‘MY25.75’ and prior examples have been marked down to a recommended drive-away price of $62,000, a chunky 14 per cent reduction from its previous sticker of $71,990. And that’s before taking into account the latter number did not include on-road costs.That price is available to private as well as fleet and government buyers and shifts cost-of-entry for a Ranger PHEV into the same ballpark as the mid-tier Shark 6 Premium (about $62,900 drive-away).The entry-grade Lux version of the petrol-electric GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV kicks off at $61,490, drive-away, and the just-released JAC Hunter is lining up for a super-aggressive “less than $50K drive-away”.Toyota, so well known for hybrid tech across its passenger car and SUV line ups, has so far only offered a relatively timid 48V mild-hybrid version of its diesel HiLux, starting at $57,990, before on-road costs.Which leaves a four-way PHEV ute cage fight between the BYD Shark 6, Ford Ranger, GWM Cannon Alpha and JAC Hunter.But wait, there’s another combatant due to step into the octagon before the end of this year, the diesel-electric Chery ‘KP31’ - yet to be named, but Orca is looking likely. Get it? Orca, higher up the predatory food chain than Shark.And with a petrol-electric version set to follow sometime in 2027 there’s no doubt (given the way Chery has repositioned the small SUV market with its Tiggo 4) it will be priced to take a sizeable bite out of the opposition.GWM is also preparing a plug-in hybrid version of its cheaper and smaller Cannon ute for later this year to complement the Cannon Alpha workhorse.Stand by for further price movements and positioning tweaks in this ongoing PHEV ute conflict.

LDV is set to muscle in on the rapidly-expanding plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) ute segment in Australia with a two-pronged strategy covering all bases and budgets.Unveiled in Beijing late last month, the T70 PHEV and Terron 9 PHEV are both expected to land locally sometime next year, though importer Ateco Automotive has yet to confirm this.The cheaper of the two will be the T70 PHEV. As a substantial update of the existing, 10-year-old T60 ute (it may retain the old name for Australia), it is expected to match and even undercut other similarly-electrified dual-cab utes also from China.These include the just-announced JAC Hunter PHEV that starts from $50,000 before on-road costs, the GWM Cannon PHEV that is due in Australia from August with pricing yet to be confirmed, as well as the as-yet-unnamed Chery ‘KP31’ that is being prepared for launch in a few months.Meanwhile, the Terron 9 PHEV will be the more-premium choice, taking on the BYD Shark 6 PHEV that kicks off from $57,990 before on-road costs in Premium grade (though a recently-released Cab Chassis version costs $2000 less).GWM’s larger second ute option, the Cannon Alpha PHEV that starts from $61,490 drive-away in base Lux guise, as well as the coming Nissan Frontier Pro PHEV, may also be in the larger LDV PHEV’s crosshairs.In contrast, Australia’s best-selling vehicle over the past two years, the Ford Ranger, is not even in the hunt against these Chinese alternatives, with the PHEV (imported from South Africa instead of Thailand like the rest of the range) commencing from $71,990 before on-road costs in XLT specification, soaring to $86,990 for the Stormtrak flagship.Despite anticipated sharp pricing, the LDV’s powertrain promises to be advanced, combining a petrol engine and an electric motor to offer both mechanical and electric four-wheel-drive capability.Other PHEV details, including powertrain outputs, battery size and range, will be revealed at a later stage.So, what are the other changes to the latest, facelifted T60/T70 series?More than just a makeover, it appears that almost every exterior panel is new from the windscreen forward and the rear window-back, including the sheetmetal and nose cone.And while the basic centre section carries over, the interior has also come in for a complete redesign, with its restyled dashboard incorporating a sizeable central touchscreen/instrumentation display, mimicking that of the Terron 9.Speaking of which, the latter is also set to donate its 163kW/520Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine to the smaller ute, replacing the 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre unit as found in the existing T60 in Australia. Whether the same power and torque outputs also carry through is not known at this stage.The coming PHEV is not the first electrified LDV ute to be sold in Australia.The existing T60 has gone down in history as the first ute to offer a battery electric vehicle (EV) option as the eT60 back in 2022.But stratospheric pricing (from nearly $100,000), rear-drive only (so no 4x4 availability) and low carrying capacity scuppered any chance of success, leading to the EV's discontinuation in 2024. That failure seems to have also delayed the eTerron 9 EV indefinitely.LDV is unlikely to make the same mistakes with either the Terron 9 PHEV or T60/T70 PHEV if/when they get the green light for Australia.Watch this space.

Ford's ground-breaking Ranger Super Duty brings unprecedented load-hauling and towing abilities to the medium-sized ute segment combined with tank-tough construction and advanced off-road smarts, so is this the ultimate workhorse for tradies?

Ford Australia has recalled the F-150 full-size pick-up due to a software fault that could prevent a trailer’s brakes from operating while towing.The notice issued by Ford on April 22, 2026, at vehiclerecalls.gov.au  lists the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of the affected 6832 F-150 trucks made between 2021-2026.According to the statement, the fault is software related and involves the Trailer Module.“Due to a software defect, the Trailer Module (TRM) may lose communication with the vehicle when a trailer is connected. This can result in a loss of trailer braking performance and the turn signal lights not operating as intended,” the notice reads.“A loss of trailer control whilst driving and/or signal lights not operating as intended, may increase the risk of an accident causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and/or other road users."Owners will be contacted by Ford Australia in writing requesting they contact an authorised Ford dealer to have the fault rectified with a free software update.This is the latest in a series of recalls which have plagued Ford’s F-150, with the previous recall being for a fire risk due to fuel vapours.

Ford Australia has released a new special edition variant of its popular Everest SUV.The brand is reintroducing its Wildtrak nameplate, with only 1000 units to be made available, starting from $79,990 (before on-road costs).This means it is the same price as the Tremor grade of the car, and roughly $4000 less than the range-topping Platinum example.2026 Ford Everest pricing Australia Ford cut the Wildtrak grade from the lineup as part of its 2026 model year update, which also saw the phasing out of the four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine. The Everest has continued its strong run at the top of the large SUV category, still sitting ahead of the closely-following Toyota Prado. It also takes on the likes of the Isuzu-Ute MU-X and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.The Everest has slipped out of the overall top 10 best-selling cars, according to data from March sales, with smaller and cheaper SUVs such as the Nissan X-Trail and Chery Tiggo 4 taking its place.The Wildtrak variant has been given a range of features inside and out to distinguish it from the rest of the lineup. It has an H-bar front bumper and a gloss black grille with orange elements. It also sits on 20-inch alloy wheels, which are predominantly black with orange inserts. The 20-inch wheels can be substituted to 18-inch units free-of-charge to improve the car’s rugged capabilities.On the inside, there are leather-accented seats, with orange stitching and ‘Wildtrak’ lettering. It also gets a panoramic roof and ambient lighting, along with a power-folding third row. The Wildtrak Everest gets the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, producing 184kW and 600Nm. It also comes with a full-time four-wheel drive system.The car can be optioned with premium paint for $750 and a towing pack for $2500. Production on the 1000 units will begin next month. 

The Blue Oval's hero Pony car is back... again.Ford announced the return of the Mustang Dark Horse to Australia this year with a limited run of 500 units.This year’s version of the range-topping V8-powered beast can also be had with a 'T8-Spec Pack', which is a collaboration with V8 Supercars’ Triple Eight Race Engineering. This is limited to just 250 units.Ford’s marketing boss Ambrose Henderson said the T8-Spec brings a new level of track-focused ability to the Mustang.At the Dark Horse’s core is the 5.0-litre V8 engine making 350kW and 550Nm.The Dark Horse T8-Spec is manual-only and is priced at $138,888, before on-road costs, which is a big chunk more than the $104,990 regular Dark Horse. The standard version can be had with a manual or automatic transmission.For the extra spend T8-Spec Pack buyers get a range of performance and cosmetic upgrades.This includes 19-inch alloys wheels, which are fatter at the rear and shod with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres.There is a large rear spoiler with blue accents and an “enhanced” front splitter that Ford said is supplied separately and not fitted to the vehicle as it can only be used on track and not on public roads.A beefed up suspension features stiffer springs and roll bars and adjustable top mounts, which Ford claims provides sharper steering response and increased stability,It comes with numerous exterior highlights including Triple Eight branding, black roof, blue Brembo brakes and bonnet decals.Inside, there are Recaro sports seats with indigo-coloured bolsters, Triple Eight branded scuff plates, a new gear shift knob and a build plate.The T8-Spec Pack is installed in Melbourne.Buyers of the T8-Spec Pack will also be invited to an exclusive track experience at Queensland Raceway in 2027.Triple Eight Race Engineering Managing Director Jamie Whincup said the T8-Spec allows the team to apply its race winning expertise and apply it to the road.“We are looking forward to meeting these 250 passionate customers at Queensland Raceway and showing them exactly what this vehicle is capable of in a track environment," he said.

Sometimes car companies just get it wrong.Despite all the market research, focus groups, design studies and marketing programs, some cars just don’t sell. Sometimes it’s a case of being the right car at the wrong time, arriving ahead of the curve or after the boom. We looked at that recently with the Holden Volt, a plug-in hybrid that arrived too soon (and for too much money) to be successful, even if the concept was right.But then there are some cars that are just a complete miss, arriving as an undesirable product. They are, to be blunt, the wrong car at the wrong time.Here are some examples of what happens when carmakers get it wrong.The decision to end local manufacturing for Holden cannot have been an easy one for General Motors management, but it was probably an inevitable one. The decision they did not have to make was to destroy the brand equity, not to mention the national pride and love, in the Commodore badge.While most of the cars on this list are obviously bad choices with the benefit of hindsight, the ZB Commodore was an obviously bad choice at the time. It was meant to soften the blow of the departure of the brilliant and beloved VF Commodore, but it only served to rub salt into the wounds.To the nice folks at Opel, GM’s German division, who developed the car (which was known as the Insignia in Europe) this was like having your glass of beer taken away and replaced with water from a muddy puddle with ‘beer’ written on the glass.It wasn’t a ‘Commodore’ in any way, shape or form, despite what Holden PR tried to spin at the time. Holden and GM should have followed the example Ford set with the Falcon and retired the name with dignity rather than slapping it on a sub-par import.Sometimes in life you’re faced with a 50-50 decision to make and the difference it makes in the long run can be enormous, or even catastrophic. That’s the case with Ford Australia and the Territory Turbo.The Territory was an inspired decision, a great example of delivering the right car at the right time. Ford managed to get in on the SUV craze just as it started to rise in the early 2000s, offering buyers who were starting to look for something taller than a Falcon an in-house alternative.The problem was, in 2006 they decided to expand the line-up and made the wrong call on that 50-50 decision. Legend has it that Ford Australia only had the funds to develop a Territory Turbo OR a Territory diesel, but not both at the same time.In the words of the Knight at the end of that Indiana Jones movie: “They chose poorly.”Thankfully they didn’t shrivel up and die in an instant, like the Indiana Jones’ nemesis, but it was a decision that didn’t help the future of Ford’s local models.By the time the Territory diesel did arrive in 2011, along with a facelift, Ford had lost too much ground to imported rivals and by the end of 2016, the Territory was done. While Ford’s decision to add the turbocharged ‘Barra’ engine to the Territory seemed logical, given the high demand for that engine in the Falcon XR6 Turbo, it highlighted the difference between the Falcon and Territory buyer.In the same way a diesel Falcon would have been a terrible idea in 2006, so too did the Territory Turbo prove a costly mistake.The Evoque was a brilliant addition to Range Rovers’ line-up, another demonstration of reading the market to perfection and adding a smaller model when that’s what luxury SUV customers were looking for.Unfortunately, the Evoque Convertible was as bad an idea as the Evoque was a good one. And this was one of those ideas that you really could tell wasn’t brilliant at the time.Sure, the SUV market was rapidly changing at that point and there were some unlikely sales hits, namely Audi’s turbo-diesel SQ5. If a diesel SUV can be a popular performance car, surely a convertible would be appealing, right?Wrong. Very, very wrong.Introduced in mid-2016, the final Evoque drop-top rolled off the production line in 2018. A footnote in the history of Range Rover, and one they’d probably like to forget.As Mazda prepares to launch its second and third EVs, the sharply-priced 6e and CX-6e, it can be easy to forget its first attempt. And they might prefer you did.The MX-30 was a bolder-than-average design, with ‘suicide doors’ that were actually more like ‘choke the front seat occupants if you opened the rear doors’, but it fit nicely into the popular Mazda line-up.The problem was what was powering the MX-30. For starters, Mazda hedged its bets, offering its much-hyped EV with a mild-hybrid powertrain option, just to confuse the issue. Which was needed because the EV only had a small battery and a theoretical driving range of only 200km, but a big price tag of over $66k.While EV sales were starting to increase at this point, so seemingly the time was right, Mazda was behind the times in terms of both capability and cost. It was destined to fail and that’s what it did, quietly pulled from sale after only three years.The American brand’s attempt to crack the lucrative ute (or ‘truck’ if you’re American) market was over before it began. On the one hand you have to give credit to Tesla for not trying to take on Ford, Chevrolet and Ram head on. But, on the other hand, what the heck were they thinking?The Cybertruck was always going to be a niche offering, with Tesla frontman Elon Musk's 250,000 annual sales claim being wildly optimistic (to put it very delicately). As the flop of the F-150 Lightning demonstrated, there is simply not a market for electric utes, whether they look like a traditional ute or something created by the work experience kid after a lot of caffeine.Where Musk and the rest of Tesla management thought they’d find 250,000 people who wanted to look like they just drove out of a 1990s computer game remains a mystery to equal the lost city of Atlantis.Electric utes may seem like a good idea, but their time has simply not come year, but certainly the Cybertruck is not what people want.