Ford Ranger News

Ford’s utes are about to undergo one of the biggest changes ever with the brand’s boss turning to Formula 1 for help in competing with Chinese rivals. Ford’s global boss Jim Farley believes the key to his company's success lies in Formula 1 know-how, according to an interview with British motoring publication Autocar.“One of the biggest gifts that Formula 1 ever gave Ford was our skunkworks team in California. Almost every one of them either comes from Formula 1 or is a huge F1 fan," Farely told Autocar. Ford made a return to F1 in 2026 with a technical collaboration with Red Bull racing. The partnerships sees Ford co-develop hybrid powertrains for both the primary Red Bull and junior Racing Bulls teams.  That gives Ford access to the experience and know-how of the pinnacle of motorsport, and this has led to the formation of Ford's top-secret skunkworks - Universal EV.Based in California’s Silicon Valley, Universal EV has developed an electric vehicle platform that can be fitted into a range of vehicles from pick-ups to sedans, hatches and vans.While Ford hasn't confirmed all of the vehicles that will use the Universal EV platform, yet, it has released a teaser video of its design and engineering teams working on sketches of its upcoming small pick-up that’s expected to revive the Ranchero name.The missing piece of the puzzle, according to Farley, is aerodynamics which will allow smaller batteries to be used. And this is where he wants more F1 input into the skunkworks program. But, it's not proving easy."It turns out that finding people who love motorsport who want to 'build a buffet in Vegas' – a $30,000 EV that's nice-looking and fun to drive - is hard," he told Autocar."A lot of people want to stay in F1 and the challenge is picking people from motorsport who can actually design a breakthrough product. But when people see what we did with this skunkworks, they will say: 'Wow, that's cooler engineering than a hypercar. They will be shocked."The reference to a $30,000 EV by Farley hints at the small pick-up which Ford says it hopes to sell for the same price.The pick-up will be a smaller sibling to the F-150 Lightning Ford and will likely use the Universal EV platform, with a possible 2027 launch.Whether it makes it to Australia is another question. That might only be possible if the vehicle is produced in right-hand drive for markets such as the United Kingdom.We might not see the Ranchero arrive in Australia anytime soon but the Universal EV platform will likely underpin other Ford models to be sold locally.This is not the first time Farley has pivoted Ford's direction in the hope of surviving the threat posed by the popularity of affordable and high-tech Chinese vehicles.In 2024, Farley declared to British publication Car Magazine that Ford was ”getting out of the boring car business and into the iconic-vehicle business”.Although in the same year he also told the Guardian, “We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption.”In 2025 Farley announced that he wanted Ford to be "the Porsche of off-road”, referencing the brand's involvement with off-road racing and applying that skill and engineering to its adventurous vehicles.Currently Ford has a limited number of models in its Australian range, with the Mustang sports car, Ranger ute and Everest SUV bringing in the lion's share of sales.

Utes are the biggest segment in the Australian car market and have been for years.Among those utes have been some consistently successful ones, but there is a new era emerging to threaten the established pack.Fleets and private buyers are more closely considering the running costs of a predominantly diesel-powered segment.Electrified alternatives are increasingly, but will we see the established pack dislodged this year? With five months worth of sales data to look at, here are the best-selling utes in Australia predicted for 2026. There will be no surprises the Ford Ranger is still sitting at the top of this list. It continues to hold the title for the best-selling ute in Australia, despite a year-on-year decrease. Ford has already shifted more than 20,000 units, which is more than any other rival so far.The Ranger recently saw the popular 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel variant phased out, with Ford providing a cheaper single turbo unit as well as wider availability of the popular 3.0-litre V6 engine, and the brand has also added a range of unique Super Duty variants to bolster its line-up.The HiLux has also held onto its second-place spot up to April and will be expected to carry on this momentum, despite it, too, experiencing year-on-year drops. It still holds a clear lead over the rest of the chasing pack, with more than 17,000 sales so far this year, no doubt helped along by the arrival of the new-generation version late last year. Toyota will launch an electric version of the HiLux later on this year, to complement the current diesel-only range.BYD’s plug-in hybrid ute has well and truly garnered the attention of buyers, especially in a market where fuel prices are a primary consideration.The Shark 6 was one of the only utes to experience growth in 2025 and it has carried on this form into this year, and is on track to surge past the Isuzu D-Max in the coming months.With more than 6000 sales already in 2026, the ute is BYD’s second-best selling model, highlighting its importance to the brand’s top-two spot for April.BYD has added two new variants to the Shark 6 in 2026. A cab-chassis, and a new performance variant, which pushes towing capacity up to 3500kg.These new variants could open up new buyers for the ute Down Under, and push it up the standings further.The D-Max ute has sold steadily compared to April 2025, 4x2 variants picking up a solid boost so far, while the 4x4 variants are down. Based on its more than 8000 sales so far, we can expect the D-Max to stay on track for a finish in the top five, even though the Mitsubishi Triton is fast approaching. An electric version of the D-Max is also not out of the question for the brand, with it recently launching in Thailand alongside mild hybrid variants.The Triton has experienced a resurgent run on the sales charts so far in 2026, with more than 8000 sales, compared to around 7000 up to May 2025.Based on this start, you can expect the Triton to be in around the top places again come the end of the year. Mitsubishi recently unveiled a hardcore version of the ute called the Triton Raider, which has received specific tuning from Aussie engineering company Premcar. It is not a limited edition, and the brand is no doubt hoping it will help continue its renewed push up the sales charts.

The evolution of the current T6.2 Ford Ranger continues with the introduction of a two-seat version of the Double Cab in the UK.According to Ford, “The Ranger Double Cab 2-Seat features a robust bulkhead behind the seats, aluminium panels in place of glass windows, a new loadspace liner and heavy-duty floor with anchor points — creating an ideal storage area for toolboxes and work equipment.”It appears to be a work around for those who want more load capacity and might otherwise choose a single-cab ute from a competitor.And significantly, in April 2025 British tax law changed to classify double cab pick-ups as ‘cars’ rather than ‘vans’ which meant they became ineligible for a benefit-in-kind (BIK) concession.Ford said this new, even more commercially focused model is “engineered for the carrying of goods” which will allow customers to claim 100 per cent plant and machinery allowance and apply the flat rate company van BIK.And Ford isn’t alone in the creation of such specialist variants for UK consumption.Commercial ‘Hard Top’ versions of the Land Rover Defender are taxed at the heavily discounted flat van rate, as is a similar version of the Dacia Duster LPG Bi-Fuel.The Ranger Double Cab 2-Seat has launched in the UK in Wildtrak specification, which Ford UK said is “by far the most popular with customers” in PHEV and diesel form.It’s worth noting Ford claims Ranger has been Europe's best-selling pickup for 11 consecutive years and a launch statement added, “We have plans to broaden the (2-seat) offering later this year and beyond.“This new model is testament to our dedication to provide a Ranger for everyone and every use case, and our commitment to keep evolving the Ranger line-up to provide solutions that work hard for our hard-working customers — including models specifically configured for carrying goods,” it said.CarsGuide contacted Ford Australia for comment on whether the Ranger Double Cab 2-Seat is a prospect for local sale and a spokesperson confirmed it is a UK-only model.

Plug-in hybrid utes are taking over the diesel dominated segment in Australia.There has been an influx of PHEV utes into the Australian market.The BYD Shark 6 has captivated buyers' attention, but it faces increasing competition from Chinese rivals such as the GWM Cannon Alpha, along with the Ford Ranger Hybrid.With these utes chasing higher payloads and towing capacities, they are battling against each other to be the dominant player in a still emerging segment.The JAC Hunter is the latest entrant, joining with a competitive price tag and performance figures.How does the Shark 6's latest predator shape to the rest of the competition?Pricing The Hunter will enter the Australian market at a price of less than $50,000, making it the cheapest PHEV ute to date. The BYD Shark 6’s cheapest pick-up variant starts from $57,900, with the Canon Alpha a small step up at beyond $60,000. The Ford Ranger PHEV has had a recent price cut, with a new entry-level XL variant arriving to slip between the Hunter and Shark 6 at $59,000 drive-away.Engine and efficiency *Driving range figures not provided by Ford Australia but calculated over several CarsGuide road tests once battery had been depleted. Ford Australia has been contacted to obtain driving range figures. The JAC Hunter leads the way for power with 360kW for its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, with an official torque figure still be revealed.The Shark 6’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors pumps out 321kW, which betters the 2.0-litre engine and single motor from the Cannon Alpha. GWM’s PHEV ute beats the Shark 6 on torque.A new Shark 6 Performance variant is coming soon with a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces total system outputs of 350kW and 700Nm, and boosts towing to 3500kg, but is $5000 more than the Premium version.Ford’s Ranger PHEV has a 2.3-litre unit, producing 207kW - the least power of any of its competitors, despite competitive torque. For the purposes of a consistent comparison, more generous NEDC figures have been used where possible. NEDC testing is generally more lenient than WLTP, so real-world experience may not match up to the numbers. The important fuel efficiency figure is edged out by the Hunter at 1.6L/100km, but the GWM Cannon Alpha is not far behind at 1.7L/100km. The Shark 6 offers fuel efficiency of 2.0L/100km, with the Ford Ranger at 2.9L/100km. While BYD is the only brand to advertise its fuel use figure without a fully charged battery, it highlights the general importance of these utes having the battery charged to achieve low fuel efficiency figures.JAC has confirmed the Hunter will have an electric-only driving range of 100km from its 31kWh battery, with a total range of 1005km. The Shark 6 has a 30kWh battery, with a total driving range of 800km, and an all-electric range of 100km.The Cannon Alpha has a bigger 37kWh unit, boosting range to 1060km total and 115km for electric-only.The Ranger PHEV has a significantly smaller 12kWh battery, offering an all-electric driving range of 49km, according to WLTP standards. This also means it has the least driving range of the four. BYD’s cheapest Shark 6 pick-up variant is the only one of the PHEV utes to not offer 3500kg braked towing capacity, although there is a more expensive performance variant offering this. The Ranger has the most payload in this group, with the Hunter coming in close, followed by the Shark 6 and then the Cannon Alpha.Verdict The JAC Hunter will launch in Australia with the cheapest price for a PHEV ute by some margin, and also comes in with strong performance figures. Ford's recent price cuts make the Ranger Hybrid a more compelling proposition.But the Shark 6 remains the leader of the PHEV ute market, but with more competitors coming, it could be about to change. GWM will release a cheaper, smaller Cannon ute in the coming weeks.Chery is not too far away from launching a diesel PHEV ute, which will add further choice for buyers. 

It is that time of the year again when car brands target a last flurry of sales before the end of the financial year. These deals often tell a story of what stock brands need to move, and in a time when electric vehicle sales are more important than ever there are some strong deals on show. Here is a look at some of the best ones going around in 2026.Kia is offering discounts across many of its models, with the most noticeable one being for its struggling Tasman ute. The range-topping X-Pro Tasman now starts from $64,990 (drive-away), equating to a more than $10,000 discount on before on-road costs pricing. The deal is available until the 30 June 2026. Kia’s strong-selling EV3 and EV5 have also picked up sizeable drive-away discounts ending 30 June 2026. The EV3 is available from $46,990 (drive-away), which equates to free on-road costs, as well as a further small discount.The EV5 has received an even more substantial discount, starting from $49,990 (drive-away), with it previously available from $56,770, before on-road costs. Hyundai has also put out some standout deals, especially on its electric range. But you'll need to move fast, with the offer ending on May 31, 2026.The brand’s Kona Electric range all have substantial discounts, with a starting price of $45,990 (drive-away).The recently-launched Elexio SUV is available from $57,990 (drive-away), with it previously on sale from $58,990, before on-road costs. The Ioniq 5 is another of Hyundai’s models being offered with a noticeable discount, starting from $71,990 (drive-away) until 31 May 2026. MG is currently offering discounts across its range to conclude the financial year, with all deals running until 30 June, 2026. One of the biggest deals offered by the brand is a $6000 cashback offer on plug-in hybrid variants of its mid-size HS SUV.Petrol and plug-less hybrids examples are available with a $3000 cashback offer, which is also available on the QS large SUV and the U9 ute. Additionally, these $3000 cashback deals include five years of free servicing on the vehicles. There are also minor conditional discounts on the ZS small SUV and MG3 hatch currently. BYD is offering $3000 cashback on several of its models in Australia for vehicles delivered by 30 June 2026. The Premium variant of the popular Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute gets the deal, and is now available from $54,900 (before on-road costs). Both variants of the Sealion 5 PHEV mid-size SUV, are also eligible, meaning it starts from $30,990 (before on-road costs). The Sealion 6 and Sealion 8 PHEV SUVs are available with the $3000 cashback offer. Chery is another brand to get in on the end of financial year deals. Its Tiggo 7 plug-in hybrid large SUV has discounts of $5000, now starting from $34,990 (drive-away). The hugely popular Tiggo 4 small hybrid SUV and Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid large SUV are being offered with a $2000 factory bonus discount. Offers run until 30 June 2026.Ford has substantially reduced the price of its plug-in hybrid Ranger lineup, with it now starting from $62,000 (drive-away) down from $71,990 (before on-road costs) until 30 June 2026. This price cut brings it closer to the price of the rival BYD Shark 6, which retails from $57,900 (before on-road costs).Some variants of the diesel Ranger are also being offered with sharp drive-away deals. Toyota’s full-size Tundra hybrid ute has received a more than $10,000 discount for models from 2025 as part of a deal to remove on-road costs and add a cashback offer. This means the ute is now available from $145,990 (drive-away). The offer lasts until June 30 2026. 

Ford has slashed the entry price of its struggling plug-in hybrid Ranger ute, as the rival BYD Shark 6 continues to put runs on the board and new competitors from China close in.The refreshed Ranger Hybrid range slashes pricing by nearly $10,000 or more per variant, and re-works the line-up to include a new entry-level XL grade as part of a set of tweaks to the dual-cab’s range.The Ranger continues to be the most popular 4x4 ute in the country by some margin, amassing 15,023 units for the year, but CarsGuide understands the Hybrid version continues to make up only a tiny fraction of sales. It is believed to be a long way behind the electrified ute market leading BYD Shark 6, which has amassed 4851 sales in the same period.Ford’s significant price discounts to the Ranger Hybrid are no doubt an effort to make the ute more competitive as tough new emissions regulations close in.The Ranger Hybrid was previously priced from $71,990 (before on-road costs) for the entry-level XLT.  The refreshed line-up dumps this mid-tier trim level from the range, replacing it with a significantly more affordable base XL grade, which starts from just $59,000 drive-away. This represents a price cut of more than $12,990, and thousands more once on-roads are included. See prices for the refreshed line-up below.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid price2027 Ford Ranger hybrid powertrain and efficiencyThe Ranger Hybrid continues to use a 2.3-litre petrol turbocharged engine mated to a hybrid motor (75kW) and 10-speed automatic transmission for a total power output of 207kW/697Nm.All versions of the Ranger Hybrid continue to be dual-cab 4x4 only, and also persevere with a small 11.8kWh battery, which grants it a WLTP electric driving range of just 49km and fuel efficiency of 2.9L/100km. However, the plug-in Ranger variants maintain the combustion version’s 3500kg towing capacity and over 800kg payloads per variant. Unlike the Shark 6, the Ranger hybrid also maintains its traditional transmission and low-range transfer case with mechanical links from the engine to rear axle.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid standard featuresStandard features have been tweaked slightly per variant for the refreshed Ranger hybrid line-up.The Ranger Hybrid XL includes:17-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyresTray bedliner12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenCloth interior trimCarpet flooringDual-zone climate controlRear air ventsSteel underbody protectionHalogen headlights and DRLsThe XLT has now been dumped from the PHEV line-up, with the next grade up being the Sport.This mid-grade trim level is now priced at $66,000 drive-away, representing at least a $9,990 discount on the outgoing PHEV Sport model, which was priced from $75,990 (before on-roads), and this is despite it adding new features.The Ranger Hybrid Sport includes:18-inch alloy wheelsAll-season tyres12.4-inch digital instrument cluster (up from 8.0-inches)12-inch multimedia touchscreen360-degree cameraTrailer back-up assistSports barSide stepsLED headlights w/auto high-beamsPuddle lampsSynthetic leather seatsWireless phone chargerPowered auto-folding wing mirrorsAuto-dimming rear vision mirrorPerimeter alarmThe Wildtrak grade continues to top-out the Ranger’s array of plug-in hybrid variants, now priced at $70,000 drive-away, a minimum $9,990 discount from the previous version ($78,990 before on-roads).The Ranger Hybrid Wildtrak includes:Matrix LED headlights w/auto-levelling18-inch alloys12.4-inch digital instrument cluster12-inch multimedia touchscreenAll-season tyresPower roller shutterTrailer back-up assistHeated front seats10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid optional featuresA handful of optional features continue for the Ranger Hybrid, with refreshed pricing and some new features for the base XL grade. See the option packages belowFull-size Spare (NCO)Adventure Pack ($500 - includes cargo management system and auxiliary switches)18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres (for XL grade - $950)Vinyl floor (for XL grade $100)All-terrain tyres (Sport and Wildtrak - $700)Flexible rack system ($1990)Style canopy ($4500)Commercial canopy (white or black - $4700)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid coloursThe Ranger Hybrid is available in an array of refreshed colours including:Frozen White ($0)Agate Black ($750)Iconic Silver ($750)Carbonised Grey ($750)Blue Lightning ($750)Lucid Red ($750)Command Grey (Sport only - $750)Ignite Orange (Wildtrak only - $750)2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid safetyThe Ford Ranger Hybrid continues to maintain a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating carried over from previous iterations, which it was awarded in 2022.It scored 84 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 93 per cent in Child Occupant Protection, 74 per cent in Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 83 per cent for Safety Assist.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid warranty and servicingThe Ranger Hybrid continues the same ownership scheme as before, including a five-year and unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty, with a separate warranty covering the high-voltage components for eight-years or 160,000km. The brand also throws in up to seven years of roadside assistance if the ute is serviced inside its dealer network.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid dimensionsThe Ford Ranger Hybrid measures 5403mm long, 1924mm wide, and 1870mm tall with a wheelbase of 3270mm.Its tray measures 1605mm long, 1523mm wide, and 498mm tall, with a 1217mm width between the wheel arches.2027 Ford Ranger Hybrid launch timingThe new Ranger hybrid will join the line-up in the third-quarter of 2026 as part of rolling updates to Ford’s popular ute range.

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.