Sedan News

You may or may not know Australia was the first export market for the world’s best ever selling car.The vehicle in question is the Toyota Corolla and this was the first country to receive exports when 15 examples of the first-gen E10 model were shipped here in November 1966, just a month after it was revealed in Japan.During the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 8) Toyota had pulled the covers off the diminutive two-door, 1.1-litre city car which over the next six decades and 12 generations would go on to comprehensively out-sell automotive icons like the Ford Model T, VW Beetle and original Mini.So, yep, the Corolla turns the big six-oh this year and Australia was a VIP guest at its first party.Less than a year after the original E10 series debuted, a four-door sedan and wagon type van joined the initial line-up and the Corolla die was cast, the newcomer quickly building its reputation as an affordable, versatile and economical small car, initially going into bat against the similarly-sized, not to mention similar-looking, Datsun (Datto) 1000 and Subaru 1000.Another Aussie milestone for Corolla was assembly of the E10 in Port Melbourne, the first manufacturing site for the model outside Japan. Toyota Australia went on to build more than 666,000 Corollas across its Port Melbourne, Dandenong and Altona plants.    Only four years later, in 1970, the chubbier E20 Corolla was introduced, retaining the original’s front-engine, rear-wheel drive configuration but with more capacity, power and weight.The alpha-numeric model code convention continued in 1975 with the E30 / E50 ‘rolla, still rear-drive with later versions powered by a 1.3-litre four and the choice of manual shift or ‘ToyoGlide’ three-speed auto. The third-gen E40 / E60 Sprinter variants were JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) and (other) selected export markets only. A more mature E70 Corolla arrived in 1981 with a new coil-spring, five-link rear suspension, but still rear-wheel drive, with a relatively conservative appearance. A clear ‘white goods’ Toyota period.The E80 kicked off the front-wheel drive Corolla era in 1985 and the ground-breaking E90 became a hugely popular small car option in Australia from 1989, bringing more contemporary looks and the availability of 16-valve, twin-cam engines (anyone remember ‘The O2 Advantage’ slogan?), especially the high-performance ‘4A-GE’.The E100 from 1994 looked more like a substantial E90 upgrade than a new-generation model but the E110 in 1998 was a clear design departure with a distinctive quad headlight face morphing into a wide-eyed, dual-headlight expression following a facelift.In 2001, the now imported E120 ushered in a sturdier, high-waisted look for the ninth-generation, with sedans, wagons and hatchbacks available. The E140/E150 continued that design theme from 2006 to the E170 sedan and E180 hatch launched here in 2014.The Corolla reached a million Australian sales, in September 2007. And for completists, the E160 (Corolla Axio sedan and Fielder wagon) was never officially sold in Australia. Which brings us to the current 12-generation E210. Launched in 2018 it’s the longest-running Corolla model and has proved a huge success.It’s brought back hot hatch performance with GR and soon-to-arrive GRMN variants and looks set to soldier on until the 13th-generation Corolla arrives later this year, with (surprise, surprise) late October a short odds favourite for launch timing. Speaking of hot hatches, in terms of motorsport the Corolla has done everything from Bathurst (its first success was a Class A victory in 1968) to the World Rally Championship as well as multiple Australian Rally Championships (at the hands of Neal Bates and Coral Taylor) and a multitude of other competition appearances around the globe.It’s recently spawned the Corolla Cross SUV as well as a host of other variants throughout its life (AE86 anyone?). And the Corolla shows no sign of slowing down with efficient hybrid powertrains keeping it relevant with sales numbers continuing to tick over locally.Last year, 18,968 new Corollas found homes in Australia, and with another 6277 sold to the end of May this year it remains the country’s best-selling small car by a comfortable margin.   Toyota has all but confirmed the next-gen Corolla will be available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure electric and possibly hydrogen fuel cell powertrain options.Speaking at the showing of a Corolla Concept at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, Toyota President & CEO Koji Sato said despite the new powertrain options, the Corolla must remain a car for “everyone”. “Whether it's a battery EV, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or internal combustion engine vehicle - whatever the power source - let's make good-looking cars that everyone will want to drive,” Sato-san said. Hear, hear to that. But facing more challenges than ever before in its 60 years, the 13th-generation Toyota Corolla will possibly be the most important for the world’s biggest carmaker. Bring on the birthday party.

The final-ever car to be designed, engineered and built in Australia was released 20 years ago this week, on July 16, 2006 – just three days after production commenced in Elizabeth, South Australia.A perfect excuse to see the Holden VE Commodore with a fresh perspective.Not as an infamous failure with timing chain issues, an eternal engine light on and broken heater controls, but as one of the world’s last affordable family cars with a body builder presence, great chassis, loping performance and rock-solid safety.Find a good one today and the VE’s muscular, dynamic strength can still disarm. In a world of same-same SUVs, don’t you miss hunky world-class Australian cars made for our environment?Understanding why the final Commodore was what it became may make some people reassess this model’s incredibly complicated story, because one day, future generations will be clambering for a slice of bygone automotive history.Here are 10 reasons why Australia’s last car deserves more respect. The VE revival starts right here.The 1948 formula on repeatEvery Holden family sedan from 1948’s first 48-215 to the final VF II of 2017 followed the same template. To a tee. A large three-box four-door rear-wheel-drive family car with at least five seats and six cylinders.At the start, the formula was an obscene money-spinner. General Motors-Holden’s (GMH) became so profitable with 50 per cent market share within its first decade that people actually called for the government to rein it in.That didn’t last. Rivals led by Ford’s thematically identical Falcon swooped in, the market fragmented as the population diversified driven by Japanese cars, then fuel prices soared, GMH went bankrupt (but was bailed out by Detroit in 1987) and Holden had to be content with half its late 1950s market share (or less).The writing should have been on the wall by the late 1990s, as a new kind of family car, defined by the pioneering Toyota RAV4, steamrolled across the globe.The VT Commodore illusionIsn’t it funny that, in 2026, while the VT Commodore is admired, the AU Falcon that embarrassingly flopped against it is what’s revered as the era’s ultimate Australian family car.This Commodore’s phenomenal sales emphatically put Holden on top again after years of to-ing and fro-ing with the EF and EL Falcon series.It was such as success not because of any enduring loyalty to the brand, but because people hated the then-new AU’s styling. And, at the time, Holden was GM’s most profitable division on the planet – the darling of Detroit.These are important distinctions to make in understanding Holden’s desire to go all-in with the next-gen model, because by 1999, following a bumper volume year that saw a record-breaking 94,642 Commodore registrations, GM thought sedans would prevail against SUV imports.Project 2686, that became the VE, was headed by engineering veteran, Tony Hyde, and was Holden’s biggest investment in an Australian vehicle since the 1971 HQ (one of Hyde’s earlier jobs), and the first all-new, non-German Opel-based big Holden since then too.In 2001, that 1948 formula was yet-again set in stone more-or-less, while the fail-proof Commodore was still riding high on top of the pops.“VE Commodore is the car we always wanted to build,” Hyde said.But even back then, SUVs were already decimating sedan demand across the world, including here. Clearly, Holden didn’t want to believe it – and there was still five years of VE development that lay ahead. The 2005 oil crisisJust as today’s soaring fuel prices have kicked the door wide open for electric vehicles, the world’s third biggest oil crisis after 1973 and 1979 then went on to pull the rug from under the VZ Commodore, BF Falcon and its Territory SUV offshoot.None really ever recovered. By the eve of the VE launch on July 16, 2006, tensions must have been unbearable down at Holden’s Fishermans Bend headquarters.  The gala launch eventAfter five years of anticipation, on an overcast Sunday morning, a VE SS V and its WM Caprice long-wheelbase luxury sedan sibling stormed a Melbourne stage before the media, to the incongruous tune of UK indie band Republica’s Ready to Go – a 10-year-old hit by then.This was meant to signal the 14 model Commodore’s retention as the number-one selling model in Australia, following strong competition from the surging Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla small cars. One. Billion. Dollars!The VE was proudly proclaimed Holden’s “Billion Dollar Baby” (totalling nearly $A1.7 billion today), which is a colossal amount in anybody’s language for what were two similar large rear-drive sedans in a sub-million-annual-unit market that would barely take in 100,000 vehicles annually.No, the fourth-generation Commodore wasn’t just for Australian mums and dads this time.But what was meant to be Holden’s victorious return to prominence was instead undermined by the media’s insistent questioning surrounding the VE’s higher-than-expected fuel consumption compared to the much-lighter VZ it replaced.That became the main focus of the headlines that followed. And it’s all people talked about, souring the new Holden for many consumers seeking something more economical.VE product fun factsOver 1000 engineers and technicians worked on Project VE over a five-year period leading up to its launch.The VE sedan’s final design by Peter Hughes was frozen by mid 2002, and evolved from a basic sketch by styling boss Mike Simcoe in 1998.VE sedan was 18mm longer, 57mm wider and 20mm taller than the VZ equivalent.Over the VZ, the VE sedan’s wheelbase increased by 126mm, to 2915mm.The VE ute’s longer 3009mm wheelbase was shared with the WM Statesman/Caprice models.Holden estimated that the VE was tested over 3.42 million kilometres, with the electricals undergoing over 41,000 hours of testing. Surely that Alloytec V6 engine light would have driven them nuts by then!The VE’s body-in-white was by far the stiffest and strongest Holden ever built. Still on safety, the Commodore was the first to standardise electronic stability control (ESC) across the range.Technically, the VE was a front mid-engine sedan, with the engine mounted behind the front axle and steering mounted forward of the front axle centre line. Pushing the front wheels to the leading extremities helped achieve this.Suspension is independent multi-link all-round.Holden secured Ford BA Falcon/SX Territory colour and trim (and more) designer Sharon Gauci’s services for the VE; she retired earlier this year after 22 years with GM, lately as Executive Director of Global Design for Buick and GMC.In VE Series 1 cars, Australians could buy engines mated to four-speed, five-speed or six-speed automatic transmissions.The VE’s aggressively flared wheel arches were not aerodynamically inefficient as many are led to believe, though they were toned down for the VF.The Zeta platform project was officially sanctioned on April 12, 2002; GM had wanted Holden to switch to a far-more complex Cadillac architecture known as Sigma for VE, but it was too expensive and narrow in key packaging areas.The dashboard’s symmetry was deliberate to aid left-hand-drive productionAt launch engine choices were a Holden-built 3.6-litre HFV6 V6 in either 180kW/330Nm LE0 or 195kW/340Nm LY7 guises, while a Corvette-derived L98 6.0-litre Gen-IV V8 delivered 270kW/530Nm.Front and rear track increased 33mm up front and 41mm in the rear.Weight distribution was close to 50/50.Around 1500 Holden SSs received the Pontiac G8’s nose cone to clear stock as a result of the latter brand’s dissolution in 2009. An entire family of VE SUVs, coupes, crossoversOf course, a VE utility (out in 2007) and wagon (from 2008) followed, but these would only account for part of that billion-dollar VE outlay.We didn’t learn until years later that Project VE was initially conceived in the early 2000s with far, far grander scope and scale.It took in an SUV (Holden’s Territory no less, badged Nullarbor), another Adventra crossover wagon, a VE Monaro (eventually revealed by the Coupe 60 concept of 2008), a Crewman dual-cab ute and even a mid-sized sports sedan called TT36 Torana, to take on the BMW 3 Series. Car enthusiast Bob Lutz headed GM’s global product strategy and he championed Holden’s engineering knowhow. GM’s head of global large carsThese vehicles would variously also serve GM’s international brands across North America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.Using the VE’s Zeta rear-drive architecture, the so-called VE Flex Enablers strategy would see these and other Commodore spinoffs sold as Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Buicks, Opels, Vauxhalls, Saabs and Daewoos, and possibly even as Fiats, Lancias and Alfa Romeos had GM’s investment in the Italian conglomerate not sour spectacularly.It’s difficult to pinpoint precisely when the VE Flex Enabler strategy untangled, but it adversely affected Holden profoundly, as each individual project was cancelled.After the boom years of the early 2000s, GM was haemorrhaging money by mid-decade, forcing further cuts to VE, and the looming global financial crisis just made things worse.It was a perfect storm for the Commodore to be born into.Holden VE-based 2010 CamaroA survivor was the reborn Chevrolet Camaro, that was designed in the United States but engineered in Melbourne using the Zeta platform. For years before its 2009 production debut, prototypes made regular appearances on Australian roads.It is likely that the Monaro 60 Concept died so the Camaro could live. Pontiac G8The VE export program was also dramatically diminished.While there were Commodore SS-based Pontiac G8 and G8 ST ute versions announced for America, only the sedan made it across the Pacific, before GM’s May, 2009 bankruptcy and subsequent closure of the famous brand also killed that project too.VE Sportwagon’s Alfa connectionAs an interesting side note, the VE-based Nullarbor SUV and Adventra crossover wagon gave licence to create the VE Sportwagon as a ‘shooting brake’ model, instead of a boxy carryall.The handiwork of senior designer, Tony Stolfo, it was the first big Holden wagon since the demise of the HG in 1971 that shared the sedan’s shorter wheelbase.Holden design chief, Richard Ferlazzo, pointed to the tailgate opening that ate into the rear roof portion as a direct rip-off from the Alfa 156 wagon.Finally, no VE sedan ever came with a split/fold rear seat, even though the Falcon had done so since the release of the EA in 1988. The official story at the time was that the solid bulkhead that remained in place enhanced the Commodore’s handling and refinement, giving it a decisive dynamic edge.However, a senior Holden exec later admitted that the decision was made to lure people wanting extended-cargo versatility into the Sportwagon instead, since that was an untested concept.AftermathA raft of updates occurred in August 2009, headed by the introduction of a smaller-capacity, 3.0-litre V6 engine prioritising fuel economy, as well as upgraded 3.6-litre V6 units and improved transmissions.In 2010, the VE Series II brought styling, engineering and interior changes as well.Over 520,000 VEs were built between July 13, 2006 and May 17, 2013, representing the longest-ever single-model run of any Holden model, as well as the most produced.More than 350,000 were sold in Australia during that time, with the series holding on to the top-selling spot up until 2010.Happy 20 birthday, Holden VE.

After its backflip on the announcement it would go all-electric by 2030, Volvo seems set to reverse another trend it has been following of late: the shift to SUVs.Reports from the US reveal internal discussions around a sedan and wagon being reintroduced to the North American market, with insiders saying the target models are already being developed for Europe.While the report is focused on the US, comments from Volvo Australia’s top brass in the past mean Aussie fans of the Swedish brand’s wagons have reason to be optimistic.The sedan and wagon, both to be electric, would bring some traditional styles back to the Volvo line-up, which as it stands only includes the large, high-riding ES90 as anything resembling a sedan.The return of a wagon has been reported by Automotive News in the US, with apparent insider information pointing to Volvo using ‘60’ or ‘70’ badged cars similar to the S60/V60 or S70/V70 badges used for sedans (S) and wagons (V) in the past.According to the report, the models will be built in Europe, with a Cross Country version of the wagon also on the cards as has been Volvo’s tradition.Set to be built on the same SPA3 platform as the new EX60, the new models would also incorporate 800-volt electrical architecture for super-fast charging and options in terms of battery sizing.While the news comes very soon after the US discontinued the V60 and V90 wagons, it might not be hugely surprising to those aware of Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson’s comments early this year on the industry’s global push for more SUVs.“We are looking into that,” Samuelsson said, “I think we will not only have SUVs five years from now.”The comments are similar to those from Volvo Cars Australia’s Managing Director, Stephen Connor, who in 2022 said Volvo wouldn’t go ‘all-SUV’.“Absolutely, we can have other models,” said Connor. “We’ve seen a big move toward SUVs in the last few years, now electrification will broaden that range. I think there’s a desire now for new shapes that aren’t just what we would consider an SUV. Electric cars let us experiment with new shapes and new ideas.”The brand’s local head of PR and Communications Greg Bosnich added at the time that if an electric version of the V60 came along, Australia would have its hand up for it.“There is still demand in Australia for a car like the V60, and if an electric model comes, we’ll be getting it.“The wagon is part of our story, isn’t it? I think HQ is conscious of that and I think that emotional connection is still there.”If you were disappointed to see the V60 disappear from Australian showrooms, stay tuned.

Many electric vehicles (EVs) are ridiculously rapid from a standstill but offer no emotion beyond being electric and fast in a straight line.However, one particular feature altered my perspective on this and how I engage with sporty EVs.This is the fake gear shifter. I experienced it for the first time in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N back in 2024 and felt so overwhelmed with all of the other new tech and customisation in the car that I didn’t get to properly test it out.However, I was recently handed the keys to an Ioniq 6 N and finally sunk my teeth into the simulated gear shifting, which Hyundai calls N e-Shift.Getting the boring stuff out of the way first, it essentially simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It’ll replicate slight jerks when shifting gears and if you take control using the paddle shifters, it can bounce off the rev limiter.There are also numerous sound profiles you can select from, but my personal favourite is the classic one that simulates a combustion engine.It sounds comical when written down, but experiencing this first hand does dramatically change how you engage with the car.Rather than just planting the accelerator and silently getting to the speed limit, you get auditory and physical feedback that brings a smile to my face every time.It’s so thrilling watching the rev counter go up and to hear the ‘engine’ getting louder. Then it reaches the next level when it snaps into the next gear.It’s even fun just cruising around with the mode on as it’ll shuffle through the gears.One of the few things that get old in the Hyundai version of this technology is the idle sound. It can be a little drony, which grates after a while.I can see the irony in how these sensations mirror what’s already offered in internal combustion-powered sports cars, but every sporty EV needs a feature like this.Beyond Hyundai, a number of other carmakers already have technology that’s similar to this.Dodge introduced the so-called ‘Fratzonic Chambered’ exhaust on the electric Charger Daytona, which uses speakers and vibration motors to create a note that comes out of an exhaust pipe.Additionally, Porsche is now introducing simulated gear shifts and engine sounds in the Taycan and the new Cayenne Electric. The German carmaker had previously been against introducing this tech.

Facing intense competition from emerging Chinese brands, the impact of US tariffs and increased manufacturing costs in Europe, the Volkswagen Group’s current financial trauma is well documented with a minimum cut of 50,000 jobs (likely 100,000) by 2030 and closure of four production plants in Germany already flagged.And now, as part of its Future Plan presentation, the Group’s executive board has said, “The (group) model lineup will be gradually concentrated on the most attractive market segments and streamlined by up to 50 percent; offering complexity will be reduced by up to 75 percent.”Which means key models currently sold by brands including Audi, Cupra, Skoda, Porsche and VW are set for early discontinuation, the latest by 2030, with the number of available options slashed by three quarters and annual production capacity dropping from 10 to nine million vehicles.Question is, which models are headed for the chop first and German publication Bild believes it has the inside scoop with a "concrete list” of 10 cars headed for extinction.Here’s the Bild VW Group product hit list.Audi: The Q5 Sportback and Q6 e-tron Sportback are unlikely to be replaced. And interestingly, even though the Porsche Taycan is marked for extinction (see below) its Audi e-tron GT twin under the skin isn’t.Cupra: The list marks the Cupra Raval (which hasn't even launched in Australia yet) as headed for the exit after a single generation.Porsche: In unsurprising news the underperforming Taycan is set to retire after the current model reaches the end of the road and the internal-combustion (ICE) Cayenne Coupe is gawn.Sadly for sports car devotees Bild’s mail is that even though Porsche’s ‘strategic realignment’ from late last year pointed to internal combustion power for flagship versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, that plan is kaput with the roadster and coupe again lining up as EV only.Skoda: The Bild report puts the Skoda Fabia small car on the chopping block, although there’s no mention of its closely-related Seat Ibiza and VW Polo siblings.Volkswagen: The Jetta compact sedan, now primarily sold in North America, and the Taos crossover-style SUV, currently offered in global markets including North America, South America and Russia (and marketed as the Tharu in China) look unlikely to make a next-gen iteration.No mention of Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini or Seat although Bentley has already shelved its plan to go pure-electric by 2035 and Lambo’s put production of its first EV firmly on the back burner.Bild estimates VW Group savings of up to €6.5 billion (~$10.7 billion) by 2031 by finishing up these 10 cars but even that’s far from a 50 per cent reduction in the across-the-board model count.Stay tuned for more VW Group model obituaries surely coming soon.

Tesla is trying to provide better value for Model Y and Model 3 drivers in Australia.The brand has introduced guaranteed future value loans for new cars.This allows prospective buyers to lock in a guaranteed minimum future value to reduce monthly repayments.Customers can choose to pay a predetermined amount to keep the car or upgrade to a new model at the end of the loan period.Tesla said this will minimise the unexpected depreciation usually attached when selling a previously new car.New cars depreciate by a significant portion of the purchase price over the first few years of ownership, generally, and EVs have attracted a higher rate of depreciation than other cars.Tesla said that by deferring a portion of the car’s cost to the guaranteed future value, monthly payments will be cheaper than traditional loans.The car must be well looked after and comply with wear and tear guidelines, as well as meet the agreed kilometre usage in order to be eligible for the deal.Car leasing company Driva is facilitating the scheme, with the initiative being extended to rideshare later this month.The Tesla Model Y SUV and Model 3 sedan are both eligible for the deal.The Model Y starts from $58,900, before on-road costs, with prices ranging up to $89,400 for the Performance grade.Meanwhile, the Model 3 starts from $54,900, but the top grade costs a minimum of $80,900.The Model Y was the best-selling car in Australia in June, producing the best sales month since the Holden Commodore in the early 2000s.Tesla introduced a six-seater variant of the SUV earlier this year, the Model Y L, which it said has been a strong seller.Electric vehicles sales continue to increase in Australia in light of their increased affordability and skyrocketing fuel prices.

We are living in an unprecedented era of automotive innovation and change that is constantly reshaping what and how we drive.For that we should be grateful, since the ongoing electrification of everyday cars, SUVs and utes means we have cleaner air, quieter streets, safer vehicles that are cheaper to run and less reliance on petrol stations.But in Australia, we’ve also lost as well as gained due to this relentless march of progress.For proof, look at any new-car guide from 10 years ago. What’s gone is shocking.Here are seven reasons why motoring in 2016 was better than it is today.In 2016, Australians could buy a handful of new small cars costing under $20,000 when converted to today’s money.Sure, we’d steer clear of the Mitsubishi Mirage from $11,990 and Holden Barina Spark from $12,890, but the Suzuki Celerio from $12,990, Nissan Micra from $13,490 and Honda Jazz VTi, Hyundai Accent Active, Mazda 2 Neo and Toyota Yaris Ascent from $14,990 apiece back then all offered comfortable, capable and reliable transport for not much money.But the only new car under $20,000 in 2026 is the Kia Picanto Sport manual from $19,190 (all prices are before on-road costs unless otherwise stated), though the MG 3 Vibe from $21,990 drive-away is actually marginally cheaper in some states after taxes.Plus, all the old entry-level small cars have vanished from Australia except for the Mazda2 (which is essentially exactly the same car) and Yaris (one generation newer), coming in at a rude $27,290 and $29,190 respectively today.It’s worth noting that a number of light SUVs do cost less than the cheapest back in 2016 (Mazda CX-3 Neo manual from $19,990, or nearly $28K today), including the Chery Tiggo 4, MG ZS, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV 3XO, GAC Emzoom, Jaecoo J5 and Haval Jolion, but still cost more than the aforementioned small cars did a decade ago.At the start of 2016, there were 36 small cars of Toyota Corolla size available in Australia; that number has halved today. And they’re hanging around a lot longer than before.Toyota recently announced that it was extending the lifespan of most models from seven to nine years.We’d already noticed. The current Corolla launched in 2018 and is still going. The previous one was done in six years, while four years was common before that.Meanwhile, the Mazda 2, CX-3 and Mazda 3 arrived in 2014, 2015 and 2019 respectively and are still on-going. The Hyundai i30 hatch surfaced in 2017. As did the existing Volkswagen Polo. And even today’s VW Golf 8.5 is a reskin of the 2012 Mk7.What’s happened? Buyers have abandoned passenger cars for SUVs, so carmakers have been forced to keep their models in production longer for a better return on investment. Or, as in Ford’s case with the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, they drop them altogether, relying on utes and SUVs instead.In 2016, buyers could purchase a new large, rear-wheel-drive family car designed, developed and built in Australia, like the Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore from under $50,000 in today’s money, or the slightly-smaller, front-drive Toyota Camry-based Aurion as a locally-made alternative.Along with the Skoda Superb that is the only one left standing in 2026, all were defined by their size, space and power.Too large for you? There were another 16 mid-sized sedans that offered almost as much, for a little less. Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata are the only names that are hanging on today.Chrysler, meanwhile, imported the 300 series, while in the upper-large segment, the Holden Caprice faced the Hyundai Genesis and, from the following year, the woefully underrated Kia Stinger. Such sedans are now history.Likewise, consumers can no-longer buy a monocoque-bodied workhorse/weekend-plaything ute as defined by the Holden and Ford Falcon utes, though the KGM Musso EV is the start of something new.And there’s more. Where have all the coupes gone since 2016? There were nearly 30 under $100,000. Why are there only four convertibles left under $100K? And from a dozen people movers under $60,000, that number has also plummeted to four, losing icons like Tarago, Odyssey and Stavic along the way.All have been replaced by dozens of EVs in hatchback, liftback/sedan or SUVs of differing sizes, with sleek, homogenised silhouettes, screen-heavy dashboards featuring minimised buttons, silent electric powertrains and every shade of white through black, or silvery blues, greens and browns.Just remember: 20 years ago, your Commodore could be had as a sedan, wagon, Monaro coupe, Adventra crossover wagon, ute, cab-chassis, Crewman dual-cab ute and long-wheelbase Statesman or Caprice, in regular or HSV performance upgrade guises, some with all-wheel drive and all with V8 options to the standard V6, with the latter also offering a liquid petroleum gas alternative. Today Holden is history.Besides the locally-designed and developed Falcon and Commodore, we also had the Falcon-derived Ford Territory to call Australia’s Own (and only-ever) SUV.These vehicles, along with the T6 ute-based Ford Ranger, Ford Everest and Mazda BT-50 made in Thailand and elsewhere, were created and engineered across this country, and were thus better-suited to our environment than their imported alternatives.And many supported Australian suppliers as a result. Most of all that has now since also gone.This one’s heartbreaking for car enthusiasts – or those who want to feel more connected with their vehicle.In 2016, we counted over 170 different makes and models available with a manual gearbox. Today that number is down to around 30 and falling.Both tallies include everything from Morgans to Mahindra Pik-Ups.Earlier we said the least expensive Toyota today – the Yaris – started from nearly twice as much as the 2016 Ascent manual’s $14,990. At least it’s a much better model than back then. And hybrid to boot.But that’s nothing compared to how much the least-expensive new Ford costs today.The 2016 Fiesta Ambiente kicked off from $15,825 (about $21,300 in 2026), while its cheapest passenger vehicle equivalent today is the Everest Active 4WD SUV from $58,990.And if it’s a non-commercial vehicle-based Blue Oval product you desire, that would be the Mustang Mach-E Select from $65,990.The proliferation of touchscreens, with their distracting sub-menus and absorption of buttons that would previously have controlled the climate system, drive modes, side mirrors or even the glove box, has been so widespread – and we have Tesla to thank for starting this craze – that independent safety organisations like EuroNCAP now penalise new vehicles it tests that do not offer clear and unimpeded access to important functions.You wouldn’t read a book whilst driving along a highway. Staring at a screen instead of the road is much the same thing.The 2026 Toyota RAV4, meanwhile, scores highly for its user interface but then drops the ball with an infuriating trigger-happy and never-ending driver-distraction warning. No thanks.Countless other new vehicles suffer from advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) interference technologies. Designed to help, they also serve to harass and annoy the driver, leading to greater fatigue and further risk of distraction.Stupid electronic door handles that just do not work intuitively are another sore point, as is the deletion of a spare wheel because the electrification technology takes precedence over personal security when stranded with a blowout far away from home.Thoughtless excuses to help carmakers save money, this is not progress but the devolution of the car we never saw coming back in 2016.

Tesla has sold out of a sought-after genuine accessory for its Model 3 electric sedan only days after its launch.The US electric carmaker is offering an air mattress for the Model 3 that fits across the folded rear seats and the boot.It’s made of three-inch high-density foam with a waterproof polyester exterior covering. It can be inflated with the integrated air pump and it comes with a carry bag and repair kit.This kind of air mattress is perfect for those who want to sleep in their vehicle overnight when camping.At this stage Tesla is only offering this air mattress genuine accessory on its US website. It’s priced from US$235 (~A$340).This Tesla-branded air mattress is not offered in Australia yet, although a number of third party accessory companies already offer a similar product. However, many don’t fit the exact contours of the vehicle.Tesla already offers genuine accessory air mattresses in the Model Y, Model Y L in Australia. They’re priced from $375 and $300, respectively.The US electric carmaker also offers a genuine accessory air mattress for the Cybertruck electric pick-up in North America.In Australia, Tesla has been going from strength to strength. In June a total of 8670 vehicles were sold, making it the fourth best-selling brand for the month.A lot of the heavy lifting was done by the Model Y electric SUV. A total of 8072 vehicles were sold in June, making it the best-selling vehicle for the month by far. It’s the first time an EV has ever been the selling-car.So far in 2026, Tesla has sold a total of 23,588 vehicles, which is up 66.7 per cent year-on-year. It’s now the 10 best-selling brand in Australia.

Lexus Australia has confirmed pricing and specification for the new eighth-generation ES sedan, with a choice of petrol-electric, and for the first time, pure-electric power.That EV power costs only $2000 more than the hybrid version, which is similar to Toyota's old jump up from petrol to hybrid power, and brings EV price parity closer than ever.Underpinned by an evolution of the global ‘GA-K multi-pathway platform’ the new ES breaks the design shackles with a sweeping fastback-style profile while retaining a conventional boot.Inside, a new 12.3-inch driver’s display joins a centrally mounted full-HD 14.0-inch multimedia touchscreen running a more powerful Arene operating system with a shift-by-wire Electro-Shiftmatic toggle shift lever controlling the transmission.Longer (+170mm), wider (+55mm) and taller (+110mm) than the car it replaces, with an expanded wheelbase (+80mm), the new ES offers a choice of two BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) powertrains.The line-up launches with the ES 350e, powered by a single electric motor sending 165kW to the front wheels only, while the dual-motor ES 500e distributes a combined 252kW to all four wheels.The BEVs 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged at up to 150kW DC for a 10 to 80 per cent fill “in as little as 28 minutes” while 22kW AC charging capacity is also onboard.Scheduled to arrive later in the year, series-parallel hybrid models feature a newly developed sixth-generation powertrain combining a (105kW/227Nm) 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine with a new ‘eAxle’ incorporating a (150kW/270Nm) permanent magnet synchronous motor generator, inverter and Power Control Unit in the transaxle(s) for a combined output of 144kW.Claimed combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel economy is 4.5L/100km for a theoretical range of around 1200km.Standard equipment on the entry-grade ES 300h includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, synthetic leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats (with eight-way power adjustment), smart entry and start and 10-speaker audio.Step up to the ES 300h Luxury + EP and the list of included features adds ventilated front seats, multi-colour ambient interior lighting, a head-up display, wireless device charging, a 360-degree view and 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio.The battery-electric ES 350e Sports Luxury tips in 21-inch alloy wheels, high-definition adaptive high-beam headlights, easy-close doors, semi-aniline leather accented seat trim, 10-way driver’s seat adjustment, driver and front passenger radiant heating, dual wireless smartphone chargers, rear door sunshades and Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS).Then, the flagship ES 500e Sports Luxury adds the extra motor with all-wheel drive as well as Interactive Manual Drive and unique 21-inch alloy wheels.

BYD is a serious sales threat to Toyota in Australia.The giant Chinese carmaker sold 243 fewer cars than Toyota, which has dominated the Aussie charts for decades.There is one particular segment BYD is chasing Toyota in that isn't getting the attention of the others.Sedans have generally been on the decline in Australia, with SUVs climbing the charts in their place.The Toyota Camry has owned the sedan segment for many years, and has recently seen a huge boost in sales.It has faced little competition from European rivals like the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Passat.BYD is now showing promise where those models haven't made an impression.The brand has introduced two sedans in Australia so far: the Seal EV and Seal 6 plug-in hybrid. The Seal is one of few fully-electric sedans on sale in Australia, with the Kia EV4 and Mazda 6e providing further competition in recent months.It has proven to be one of the best-selling electric sedans since it launched in late 2023, trailing only the Tesla Model 3 on the sales charts this year.The Camry remains the outright leader of the sedan segment, but the Seal’s sales trump every competitor but the Camry and the Model 3. It is also the sedan that has experienced the most growth in 2026, up nearly 65 per cent. The Seal isn’t the only sedan providing a threat to the Camry from BYD, with the Seal 6 PHEV also now on sale.It has managed 249 registrations since it went on sale in April.BYD’s sedan push doesn’t stop there.The Seal 7 has recently been approved for sale in Australia.It will size up similarly to the Camry, compared to the smaller Seal and Seal 6.It could be an appealing alternative for fleets and ride share drivers, as it may be available in both plug-in and fully electric forms.Those sales remain an important component of the Camry’s success in Australia.