Lexus News

Australia’s new car market is at a “crisis point”, according to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).  The AADA has warned dealers are losing money due to the influx of new car brands. AADA Chief Executive Officer James Voortman said Australia needs to stop letting new car brands launch here. “Dealers are facing intense competition, relentless pressure to take more stock and rising business costs. Too often, they are left to absorb the financial consequences of decisions made elsewhere in the supply chain,” Voortman said.  “There are simply too many manufacturers operating in this market and we need a pause on further car brands entering this market. At a time when other countries are trying to slow the rate of change and number of brands, Australia is allowing unfettered access to this market.” New car brands continue to launch in Australia, growing from 39 in 2021 to 67 in 2026, with more on the way in the coming months.  AADA has set out a 10-point plan, with recommendations for the government, suppliers and manufacturers.  The association wants the government to consider a capped licensing regime and pause the entry of any new brands into Australia.  It has called for the implementation of proposed dealer protections to be fast-tracked and liability of Australian Consumer Law breaches to be repositioned onto manufacturers, with new brand entries paused until this has been achieved.  It also wants at least a 12-month price freeze to guard against “severe pressure” on dealer profitability.  Among the changes for manufacturers is the agreement of realistic sales targets, allowing dealers to decline excess stock without facing commercial penalties.  AADA has previously raised concerns around long car repair and refund wait times in Australia as well as a "wave of litigation" when EV batteries need replacement outside of warranty. Australia’s market provides a near-perfect environment for new car brands to launch, because they are not subjected to major tariffs or prohibitive fees. It’s seen brands from around the world, especially China, flood into Aussie showrooms offering buyers very competitive prices.  Many Chinese brands operate with extensive sub-brand networks. There could be as many as nine Chery sub-brands in Australia by the end of 2027, while BYD and GWM also continue to actively add to their line-ups. These brands have capacity to produce copious amounts of stock, but selling them isn’t as simple a task, according to Voortman.  “Pushing excessive stock onto dealers is fuelling a race to the bottom. Aggressive discounting erodes margins and devalues vehicles while dealers carry the financing costs and risk of unsold vehicles,” Voortman said. “Strong headline vehicle sales can conceal serious financial distress at the businesses making those sales. Dealers cannot keep absorbing higher costs, lower margins and greater stock risk indefinitely.” This news follows reports that some Chinese brands are losing money on cars sold. Hyundai Australia Chief Executive Officer and President Don Romano told CarsGuide in July 2026 BYD’s approach to the Australian market wasn’t sustainable.  "I think if I were to lose money and dump cars, and if my stock price was down 40 per cent, I could do the same," Romano said.  "I think there's a big difference between growth at any cost and growth organically, so I'm not surprised. I would be if it was sustainable.”

Many Aussie have bought their first ever EV in 2026 and it’s changed the new car market forever. The Iran war's impact on fuel prices is often put forward as a key reason why more people than ever are making the electric car switch, but that's not the full story. Ed Harvey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Australasian home EV charger manufacturer Evnex, told CarsGuide it was fuel security that started to sway buyers. “It flipped the argument,” Harvey said. “The fuel prices have not just really strengthened the cost-saving argument, but also I think it's the first time that people really started talking about energy security or transport security.” Range anxiety has put many buyers off EVs.  It combines a fear of running out of charge with having nowhere to charge it. Harvey said the fuel crisis brought about by the Iran war and the closing of the integral Strait of Hormuz in March 2026 started to change buyer perception. Buyers can now save as much as $3600 a year in just fuel costs by making the EV switch, according to Evnex's research, but Harvey said fuel security also started to cause anxiety with panic fuel buying leading to localised shortages. The federal government relaxed fuel standards and released reserves, while launching a $20 million “Every little bit helps” fuel conservation advertising campaign. Harvey said it was fuel availability not fuel prices that "flipped the script" for many buyers. Drivers worried about where they could fill up as opposed to where they could charge up, for the first time. “I think that really changed how people thought about energy security and our reliance on imported fossil fuels,” Harvey said. “I knew some people with petrol or diesel vehicles that were asking friends to borrow electric vehicles for the holiday period because they were nervous they might not be able to get where they needed to go.” BYD Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins told CarsGuide higher fuel prices and fuel shortages contributed to exponential EV uptake earlier in 2026. Collins described the early stages of the fuel crisis period as a “pivotal point” and an “unprecedented time”. “That March, early April period - I think it was genuinely only a four-week period where we saw a big spike in orders,” Collins said. “I think there were a lot of people that were on the cusp of buying an EV and that tipped a lot of people into ‘I’ll just make the decision now’. “It was a pretty tumultuous time, so I think there’s some truth to that.” The Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) 2026 ‘State of EVs’ report found buyers purchased one EV every 100 seconds in the first half of 2026. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales contributed to more than a quarter of all new car sales in the first half of the year, compared to roughly one in every 10 in the first half of 2025. Where there are competitive EV choices, buyers are making the switch, such as the mid-size SUV segment. The BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5 and Tesla Model Y have consistently featured among the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and have experienced unprecedented growth. There hasn’t been the same growth in some other large segments of the market, and this is because competitive EV choices are still emerging, according to Electric Vehicle Council Chair and Origin Energy E-mobility GM Chau Le. “In each of these segments, EVs are becoming competitive, but we're not quite there yet in some of the segments,” Le told CarsGuide. “We're still a bit out, but with more EV models coming in and improvement in battery technology, it's only a matter of time until we're competitive across all segments.” There are no electrified utes that reach the balance of affordability, capability and driveability that their diesel counterparts have yet. Diesel-powered utes like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux continue to be a significant component of the new car market. Once competitive electric ute choices emerge, the ute segment will likely follow a similar transformation to the rest of the new car market. New car buyers' priorities have shifted permanently, and there's nothing fuel prices or supplies can do to change it.

Toyota’s plan to make EVs cheaper, lighter and stronger is official. The Japanese carmaking giant is investing almost 13.4 billion yuan (roughly $3 billion) into its own self-developed gigacasting factory in Shanghai, China. Gigacasting uses machines to mould large chunks of the car’s body together, contrasting smaller individual fuses. The plant is already under construction, with production expected to begin in 2027 on models for its premium sub-brand Lexus. This process could be rolled out to more mainstream EVs such as the bZ4X and Chinese vehicles including the bZ3 in the future. The switch to China also signals a huge shift for Toyota because the brand has primarily developed its cars in Japan. Gigacasting is an absolute game-changer for EV production. The process involves large diecasting machines moulding body components into a single piece, in contrast to time-consuming welded assemblies. Toyota’s Chief Technology Officer Hiroki Nakajima said this decision reflected Toyota's move towards a new future. “This is a major opportunity to completely transform the manufacturing system,” Nakajima said in an interview in Brussels. “Our starting point has always been to insist on independent research and development.” Toyota is currently conducting testing and verification of the gigacasting technology in Japan before it sends the process global. A production version of the Lexus LF-ZL concept could be the first model as part of the project. The brand revealed the LF-ZL in 2023 and said it would be built using gigacasting. Most cars are built by stamping aluminium and steel pieces together, which is a longer process and doesn’t have the same structural rigidity as large connected pieces. Using gigacasting makes a car significantly lighter, because it doesn’t have individually-stamped metal weighing it down. Electric cars are heavier than petrol- and diesel-powered equivalents, which greatly impacts their overall driving range. A lighter EV means more driving. While battery packs are the main culprit for the weight disparity, gigacasting can reduce the overall body weight of a car by as much as 20 per cent. The move is also expected to significantly shorten vehicle development and production cycles. While gigacasting isn’t mainstream yet, it has been picking up steam among some of the world’s biggest carmakers. Tesla uses gigacasting to build many of its models including the best-selling electric car, the Tesla Model Y SUV, and the Model 3 sedan. BYD also uses gigacasting on some of its premium models, including the upcoming Denza Z sports car and Yangwang U8 ultra-luxury SUV. Ford, Hyundai and Nissan are exploring the possibility of implementing it into their production lines as well.

Lexus has announced its TZ three-row electric SUV will land in Australia in 2027.  The TZ is a luxury version of the new all-electric Toyota Highlander announced in February 2026 that was ruled out for an Australian launch by Toyota. The current hybrid-powered Highlander is on sale in Australia as the popular Kluger, but the next-generation will be electric-only. The TZ lines up as a rival to other three-row EVs the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,668) and Kia EV9 ($97,155), both before on-road costs.  Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed local specification details for the TZ.  It's designed around a “driving lounge” concept that prioritises passenger space, seat flexibility and comfort.  The TZ was first revealed in the United States in May 2026.  It uses dual electric motors, providing a total system output of 300kW, compared to the Ioniq 9’s 314kW and the 160kW of the EV9’s base grade. Aided by an all-wheel drive system, the TZ can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds.  Lexus has given the TZ a huge 96kWh battery, offering a WLTP driving range of 530km.  The car can DC charge at 150kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent juice-up takes about 35 minutes.  The car will be configured in a 2-2-3 layout, with second-row captain chairs and three seats in the back row, but there is also expected to be a six-seat option It's likely to have the same 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver display as the new Highlander EV.  The TZ will launch in Japan in late 2026, ahead of its Australian arrival in 2027.  It’s unclear exactly when the TZ will arrive here, but it could be as early as the first quarter of 2027.  Lexus will show off the TZ for the first time at the Melbourne Cup on November 3, 2026.  Lexus will reveal official pricing closer to the TZ’s launch, but buyers can expect it to be more than $100,000, which is similar to its rivals.  Lexus will also show off an ultra-exclusive grade of its RZ 600e electric performance SUV at the Melbourne Cup in November 2026.  The Japanese brand announced RZ 600e F Sport Performance in December 2025, with it now revealing there will only be nine examples sold in Australia.  It has different 21-inch alloy wheels and a yoke steering wheel as well as sports suspension that’s been lowered by 20mm.  The car boasts a suite of new carbon elements, including the spoilers and on the bonnet.  It has dual electric motors that combine to produce a total system output of 313kW, with a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 4.4 seconds.  It’s also equipped with a 77kWh battery that has a quoted driving range of 525km. 

Hybrid power is now mainstream for Aussie buyers.   It's an important choice for buyers transitioning from petrol- and diesel-powered cars to full EVs. Hybrid-powered cars are also important for brands as they seeks alternatives to internal combustion cars that incur fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). There are broad categories of hybrid cars in Australia, and each one has its own benefits for buyers. Here's a look at what hybrids are available, and which one might suit you best. Mild hybrid power is the first stage of electrification for cars. Mild hybrid cars can't drive on EV power alone, because they only use a small, low-voltage battery (usually) 48-volt, with a less than 1kWh capacity. The electric motor usual powers certain electrical features and the starter motor. They don't need to be charged, but they also don't offer noticeably better fuel efficiency than standard petrol- and diesel-powered cars. The popular Toyota HiLux ute is available with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, while Suzuki and Renault offer mild hybrid set-ups on some of their models. Conventional hybrid, plug-less hybrid or self-charging hybrid cars are popular in Australia. The engine works seamlessly with a bigger electric motor to maximise fuel efficiency. A conventional hybrid usually runs on electric-only power at low speeds or for short distances when cruising at higher speeds. The engine will kick in at higher speeds or when more power is needed, blending petrol and electric power. This makes fuels efficiency in urban environments or star-stop traffic better than what a petrol- or diesel-powered car would achieve. The battery in a conventional hybrid is charged by the engine and from regenerative braking, meaning the car doesn't need to be plugged in. The conventional hybrid car's battery is smaller than those in plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars, and still requires a petrol engine to run. Toyota provides conventional hybrid set-ups on the vast majority of its Australian line-up, including its RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan. Other popular brands Kia, Hyundai and others also have affordable conventional hybrid variants on its popular models. Plug-in hybrids or PHEVs take hybrid power to the next level because they are equipped with a much larger battery and a more powerful electric motor set-up. PHEVs have a long electric-only driving range, with some capable of exceeding 200km, before the engine is needed to drive the wheels. Most new PHEVs have an EV range of at least 100km. This means daily commuters will rarely have to fill-up on fuel if they charge the battery every night. PHEVs also boast significant combined driving range as they have a regular sized fuel tank to power the engine, resulting in ranges of north of 1000km before the fuel tank and battery are depleted. Carmakers often claim PHEVs drink less than 2.0L/100km of fuel, but that requires owners to constantly charge their batteries and never let it deplete. Once the battery is depleted fuel use will skyrocket, as the small engine has to move around a heavy vehicle weighed down by the battery and electric motors. PHEVs suit a buyer with access to charging facilities, who also want outstanding fuel efficiency. Bigger Chinese vehicles usually employ PHEV set-ups, including the BYD Shark 6 ute and incoming Zeekr 8X and 9X. Range-extender hybrids, also known as Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV) or Extended-Range Electric vehicle (EREV), are gaining popularity globally. They are feature similar hardware to PHEVs, but work in a different way. The engine in a REEV's is used as a generator for charging the battery, and the wheels are driven by the electric motor, or motors, only. REEV's have an EV-sized battery that can also be plugged in to charge, giving these cars a driving range comfortably exceeding 1000km. Leapmotor's B10 and C10 SUVs use REEV set-ups in Australia, but the incoming Forthing Taikon 5 and the XPeng L03 will also employ the set-up when they hit showrooms. Nissan’s ‘e-Power’ hybrid system in the X-Trail and Qashqai SUVs employ REEV tech on a smaller scale, using the engine to power a small battery that powers the wheels, but this battery cannot be plugged in to charge.

If you’re an EV buyer in 2026, you need to know about this.  The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has revealed the state of play for electric and plug-in hybrid cars in Australia in 2026.  This is the 10th year of the ‘State of EVs’ report as more buyers bought EVs than ever before Down Under.  The report analysed the 2025-26 financial year, and how buyer trends and infrastructure, among other things, have changed in that time.  It called for several policy reforms, including targeted equity-based policy to assist economically-disadvantaged Aussies reap the benefits of EV driving. Australia’s charging landscape is diverse, it is also complex and fragmented and needs major investment, according to the report.  In June 2026, there were 4268 public charging locations, which is 235 per cent more than June 2025 There were 11,602 public charge points in June 2026, up 175 per cent compared to June 2025 The EVC said there needs to be more research into how owners charge EVs and where they need them most.  “Australia still needs substantial public charging investment, but the task is not as simple as just installing more fast chargers,” the report reads.   “Most charging happens where vehicles already park—at homes, apartment buildings, workplaces, destinations, kerbsides and depots.” The report calls for a nationally-coordinated charging roadmap and scaled infrastructure deployment. This news comes after NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told CarsGuide in December 2025 Australia’s charging infrastructure was lagging behind.  “We’re nowhere near. We’ve got nowhere near enough public charging,” NRMA spokesperson Khoury said.  “There are lots of areas that don’t have energy that comes from outside the energy grid so you’ve got to create energy sources at those locations.” The EVC is calling for the government to implement a range of new rules in Australia.  It wants a targeted equity-based policy to help all Australians use EVs and take advantage of the cost savings with EV adoption. The report states that EVs have lower running costs than petrol- and diesel-powered cars, with less maintenance, seeing a typical driver saving roughly $3000 per year.  The EVC said this figure did not include the substantial increases to fuel prices in 2026, with savings calculated today even higher.  It said the federal government needs to implement an updated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) for cars sold beyond 2029 to align with 2035 emissions reduction targets.  NVES is a set of emissions rules that imposes fines on cars sold that emit high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.  Developing a car takes a brand several years to complete, meaning carmakers need to know the rules these models will need to follow. It also said there should be a national road-user charge that does not deter EV uptake. This would differ from the current system proposed by the New South Wales government from 2027 that the EVC said would slow EV sales. The New South Wales government wants a road user charge to make up for lost fuel excise revenue and ensure all road users contribute to maintenance.  The EVC found a fully-electric or PHEV car was bought every 100 seconds on average in the first half of 2026, with one in four new car sales using an electric powertrain. The report reads cost-of-living pressures, soaring fuel prices and greater EV choice has contributed to a sharp increase in electric car uptake in 2026.  Fully-electric and PHEV sales accounted for 25.8 per cent of new car sales up to June 2026, increasing from 12.1 per cent up to June 2025 There are 196 combined full EV and PHEV models on sale, compared to 153 models in 2025 There were 157,957 electric and PHEV sales in H1 2026, up 177 per cent from H1 2025 Australia’s EV uptake is now in line with the global average, according to the International Energy Agency “So, at a time when fuel prices are fluctuating and cost-of-living continues to bite, it’s no surprise that EVs have become a popular choice,” the report states.  “As of June 2026, drivers have never had a greater choice of EVs in Australia.” Australia recently got its new cheapest electric car in the BYD Atto 1 that is being offered from $19,990 (drive-away) until December, 15 2026.

Lexus has unveiled an upgraded version of its NX mid-size SUV featuring subtle design tweaks, a revised hybrid system and new battery tech as well as improved body rigidity and better ride quality. Offered across 300h, 350h and 450h+ variants in Japan, it’s likely the same line-up will be offered locally when the new car hits Aussie showrooms in the first part of 2027. The 300h is a 2.0-litre, front-wheel drive series-parallel hybrid with an overall output of 145kW, the 350h is a 2.5-litre hybrid in front- or all-wheel drive producing 140-180kW, with the 2.5L AWD plug-in hybrid flagship 450h+ delivering 215-240kW (with an EV-only driving range of 140km in Japan).  At 4690mm, the new NX is 30mm longer than the model it replaces with width (1865mm), height (1660mm) and wheelbase (2690mm) unchanged.  An exterior design refresh includes integrating reshaped headlights and DRLs with a raised mesh grille which is claimed to improve aero and cooling performance.  Car-spotters should also look out for exterior mirror covers in black rather than chrome and LED tail-lights featuring a ‘Double L Signature’ graphic. Inside, a 12.3-inch instrument display is joined by a 14-inch navigation/multimedia panel with a ‘Sensory Concierge’ combining ‘linear illumination’, music, air conditioning, seat temperature, fragrance and ‘indirect lighting’ to “create a calm and sophisticated atmosphere.” The new car’s compact ‘e-Axle’ which integrates the transaxle, motor and PCU (Power Control Unit) now uses silicon carbide (SiC) in the inverter's power elements to enhance efficiency and improve fuel economy. At the same time the flagship NX450h+ features a new battery pack boasting eight per cent higher output and a 30 per cent capacity increase for additional range and even faster DC charging. By changing battery cell orientation from longitudinal to lateral, body rigidity has been improved and the car’s centre of gravity lowered for improved handling dynamics. Torsional strength has also been improved across the board through “reshaping of the engine block and increased rigidity of the transaxle and engine connection using reinforcing materials.” This also contributes to reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Floor rigidity has been improved by approximately 25 per cent and the suspension towers have been integrated more thoroughly with connected components. The claim is a 30 per cent improvement in overall rigidity “resulting in improved handling, ride comfort and reduced road noise.” In fact, Lexus said the new NX’s performance characteristics have been fine-tuned at the Toyota Technical Centre Shimoyama, west of Tokyo and Germany's Nürburgring. New dampers feature ‘ultra low-speed valves’ for a better balance between handling response and ride comfort. The variable-ratio steering set-up has been recalibrated to adjust to changing demands faster and accelerator control has been revised for a more linear response. The steering wheel itself is also 10mm smaller in diameter. Standard wheels are 18-inch alloy shod with 235/60 rubber with F Sport grades stepping up to 20-inch rims and 235/50 tyres. Active (crash-avoidance) safety has also been “evolved to recognize objects more broadly and from a greater distance, expanding the range of accident scenarios it can address.” Other safety systems have also been upgraded, including: Active cruise control Lane-change assist Pre-collision safety Driver monitoring Adaptive high-beam Blind-spot monitoring Panoramic overhead 3D view  Pricing and exact specification will be confirmed closer to the new car’s launch date but for reference the existing line-up starts at $71,830, before on-road costs, for the 350h 2WD Luxury and tops out at $96,090, BOC, for the 450h+ F Sport.  

Toyota is getting serious about its EV plans. The Japanese carmaker will build a new-generation electric car in China using a revolutionary manufacturing process, according to a report in Nikkei Asia. The SUV model will be sold under Toyota’s luxury division Lexus and will be built in the company’s new plant in Shanghai. This marks a huge shift for Toyota - a brand that has historically developed its new technology for vehicles in Japan before exporting globally. This time it will develop the technology in China and then potentially bring it back home. China is a hub for EV manufacturing, with local and now legacy brands. Toyota is the latest example, although only a small scale at this stage. Gigacasting is a game-changer for EV production because it makes cars lighter, stronger and cheaper to build. Electric cars are heavier than petrol- and diesel-powered equivalents, so reduced weight boosts driving range significantly.  Gigacasting is a process where a large die-casting machine moulds the body components of a car into a single piece, rather than welding many individual steel parts.  It could reduce the overall body weight by as much as 20 per cent, while also being cheaper to build overall. Tesla and Xiaomi were early adopters of the technology, with other brands like Toyota now exploring it.   Many Tesla Model Y’s feature gigacasting on front and rear underbody elements, while the rear underbody of the very popular Xiaomi SU7 is also produced using a single piece.  This new EV could be the production version of Lexus' LF-ZL Electric SUV concept revealed in 2023. Lexus also revealed a sedan concept called the LF-ZC at the same time. Lexus said at the time both models were designed to be built using gigacasting. Toyota will begin production of its new Lexus-badged electric car in the first quarter of 2027.  The brand plans to produce 1000 units each month for the first year, before expanding to tens of thousands per year by 2028.  If Toyota is successful with its gigacasting project in China, it is likely to be brought back to Japan for mainstream use on its cars to save the company money and time. Don’t expect to see this Lexus EV in Aussie showrooms any time soon, because Australia is more likely to receive other Toyota vehicles built with gigacasting in the coming years. 

In a world of monstrously big SUVs and terrifyingly giant utes, there still exists the super large saloons for those who prefer to maintain a powerful presence with class and sophistication.  We're talking limos - not the party kind - we mean the luxurious transport for business executives or those who prefer to be driven rather than drive. We've put together the top 5 largest cars currently sold in Australia Length: 5139mm Width: 2241mm Height: 1464mm A Lotus was not on my list of possible big-car candidates, but here we are with the fully electric 5139mm long Emeya four-door lift back. The Emeya is the first of its kind from a brand that forged its iconic reputation by building tiny sportscars in a shed. Things have changed and Lotus is now owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely, and the Emeya is built in China.  While not the longest car here, the Emeya is actually the widest with its wing mirrors out. Despite its enormous exterior dimensions the Emeya isn’t particularly voluminous on the inside, but there are four seats and a 509-litre boot.  Dual motors make 450kW and 710Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds. The starting price is $190K. Length: 5139mm Width: 1900mm Height: 1450mm Secretly loving that a Toyota, sorry Lexus, quietly slipped into this top 5 elite party. At 5235mm end-to-end the LS isn’t small, and nor is it short on luxury. Lexus positions itself as a Benz or BMW on a budget, but with a starting price of $200,000 the LS isn’t all that cheap. The value is outstanding, however, compared to the others here, and while rolling up in a Lexus to meet business executives at the airport doesn’t have the same impact as a BMW 7 Series, but as a car girl, I honestly think the LS is more opulent. Powered by a V6 hybrid the LS is without a doubt the most reliable and cheapest to maintain limo here. Length: 5391mm Width: 1950mm Height: 1544mm BMW’s 7 Series is seriously imposing, a cliff face on wheels, with its gigantic grille and its sheer vertical drop, but it’s not just all front - this beast is 5.39m end to end. As a reference the Australian design rules state a car park space must be 5.4m long and 2.4m wide. So it’ll fit… just.    Updated for 2026/27 with BMW’s next-gen Neue Klasse design the 7 Series looks even more menacing and futuristic, while the interior is sporty and hi-tech with screens everywhere.  As for powertrains you can burn fossil fuel with a 3.0-litre inline 294kW/580Nm six-cylinder engine on offer but the electric i7’s enormously powerful and torquey motors (making up to 400kW and 745Nm) and seamlessly brutal ability to get out of its own way suits the big BMW limo better.   The 7 Series starts at a list price of $272,900. Length: 5469mm  Width: 2109mm  Height: 1510mm The Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is a super luxury version of the S-Class and it’s even longer than one too. A regular S-Class long wheelbase is 5289mm end to end while the Maybach version stretched 180mm at 5469mm in length. While more or less the same car as the S-Class the Maybach offers more legroom, more decadence and more engine - with a V12 offered on the higher grades. The Maybach is also more expensive - almost double the price of an S-Class LWB at about $630,000 Length: 5982mm, width: 2154mm Height: 1656mm Of course the biggest car sold in Australia is a Rolls-Royce and it’s not just the Phantom Extended, it’s also the Ghost Extended at 5715mm and the Spectre Series II at 5453mm. But if we had included them, then the top 5 biggest cars would have all been Rollers. So we’ve gone for the largest Rolls-Royce car, the Phantom Extended, which at 5982mm is more a train than a car and 220mm longer than the standard wheelbase Phantom. While there are only four seats in a Phantom Extended they are the size of lounge chairs in a sumptuous hotel lobby and legroom is, well you can literally lie down back there because the seats become beds. In Australia the Phantom Extended starts at more than $1.1m but as with most Rolls-Royce’s the customers will want to personalise it with bespoke touches taking the final price much higher.  

This V8-powered Japanese coupe is being phased out in Australia.  Lexus has confirmed the LC is approaching the end of its lifecycle Down Under.  A special edition LC 500 will hit Aussie shores in the second half of this year as the final examples of the car. Lexus said allocation for the car has already been exhausted, with only a small number of units provided. A spokesperson for Lexus Australia also confirmed the you can no longer order any model from the LC lineup anymore. So what is next for the iconic sports car?  The LC 500 is Lexus’ flagship two-door sports car, available in hard-top coupe or convertible form. It carried a more than $200,000 price tag in Australia, having launched globally in 2017 as a direct rival luxury grand-touring coupes like the BMW 8-Series. The rear-wheel drive LC is fitted with either a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine, producing 351kW/540Nm or a 3.5-litre hybrid petrol engine, with 264kW and 350Nm.  Lexus originally planned to halt production for the car in late 2025, but this latest special edition batch will now be its final iteration. It is the bigger sibling of the RC compact sports car that was discontinued in 2022.  A spokesperson for Lexus Australia said they could not comment on what would replace the LC 500.  It does seem like the full-blooded V8 engine will be a thing of the past for the Lexus sports car. Speculation in 2024 suggested the LC’s replacement would ditch V8 and non-hybrid V6 set-ups to be powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 hybrid engine or fully-electric alternative.  Lexus also unveiled an electric sports car concept at the Japan Mobility Show last year that could provide a glimpse into what is coming.  The concept provided few details other than its striking looks, but it did feature multiple electric motors and batteries, according to the brand.  An electric successor to the LC is more likely as Lexus targets an electric-only lineup by 2030.  We could learn more of this new potential model in the coming months, and into 2027.