SUV News

GWM is about to launch a new alternative to the Toyota RAV4. The GWM Haval Jolion Max has just been approved for Australian sale as it gears up to tackle the ultra-competitive mid-size SUV segment. The larger Toyota RAV4-sized Jolion Max will join the smaller petrol- and hybrid-powered Jolion that has been a strong seller in Australia in 2026. Filings show the Jolion Max will be available with fully-electric or plug-in hybrid power, so it will rival the Geely EX5 ($41,990) and GAC Aion V ($42,990) EVs, as well as the all-wheel drive-only Toyota RAV4 PHEV ($58,840), all before on-road costs. The Jolion Max will launch in Australia in the first quarter of 2027. Fully-electric variants of the Haval Jolion Max will use a single electric motor that produces 150kW, which is a step up in power on both petrol (105kW) and hybrid (140kW) Jolion models. The PHEV set-up boosts power again, with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, producing 240kW. Both Haval Jolion Max variants are front-wheel drive, with no AWD option listed in sales approval filings, differing from some of its key competitors. Details inside the cabin are scarce at this stage, but overseas examples boast a connected 12.3-inch central multimedia screen and 7.0-inch digital driver display. It has a six-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Top-spec grades receive a wireless phone charger, panoramic sunroof and electrically-operated tailgate. The local branch’s Chief Operating Officer John Kett told CarsGuide in September 2026 the Haval Jolion Max would launch in the fourth quarter of 2026, but GWM has now pushed it back to the first quarter of 2027. A spokesperson for GWM Australia did not provide more exact timing when contacted for comment. Kett said the Jolion Max will play an important role in pushing GWM towards the top of the SUV segments. "Between H7, H6 and then of course Jolion Max toward the end of the year Ora 5 Touring - we're not even playing in 20 per cent of the segment which is now EV,” Kett told CarsGuide. “So for us, those four vehicles will take us to top three to top five in the segment." “That's where we want to get to, so if we get that right and H6 continues to do what it's doing now with Jolion Max on one side and Ora 5 Touring on the other that puts us in the position to really make some inroads into that segment.” GWM will reveal pricing closer to the car’s 2027 launch, but it’s likely to be more expensive than the current Jolion hybrid priced from $32,990 to $38,990 (drive-away). The Jolion has been one of the best-selling cars in Australia in 2026, and is GWM’s biggest seller across its line-up, however it plays in a different size-segment, against rivals like the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Kona.

Hyundai has increased the pricing of many of its combustion-powered models in Australia as CO2 emissions regulations continue to crunch. Pricing for the pure combustion-powered Hyundai i30, Sonata, Venue, Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles increased by up to $500 as of October 1, 2026. “The price increases are due to global economic factors, manufacturing, logistics and local policy,” said a Hyundai Australia spokesperson. Many of the affected Hyundai models also feature electrified powertrains and with the price rise for the petrol versions, this narrows the price difference. Not every pure combustion-powered Hyundai model received a price rise. All versions of the Staria, Staria Load, as well as the new Palisade XRT Pro aren’t affected. Pricing for the affected Hyundai vehicles is now as follows: Going back to Hyundai Australia’s statement, there’s a clear link to what “local policy” is causing the price rise of the pure combustion-powered models. The Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) has been in effect now for almost two years and the CO2 emissions targets are continuing to clamp down each year. In 2025 Hyundai Motor Company Australia (inclusive of Hyundai and Genesis) generated a fine amount of $4.2 million for going above its fleet CO2 emissions target. It was the fourth worst-performing brand, behind Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. With tougher CO2 emissions targets this year and even harder ones coming into effect in 2027, Hyundai may be at risk of accruing more fines, unless it can import more zero- to low-emissions vehicles (ZLEVs) or purchase credits from other carmakers.

Stepping into another person’s shoes is never easy. But a motoring journo is doing that at least 90 per cent of the time. I, James Cleary, may not be in the target market for a compact electric city car, but when I’m behind the wheel of a BYD Atto 1 or Geely EX2 I do my best to inhabit the mindset of someone who is. Similarly, a Lamborghini Temerario may be well beyond my pay grade and appear hugely expensive relative to my bank balance. But to someone lining up to add that tasty wedge of Italian exotica to their collection, it almost certainly won’t be. And that ‘getting into the customer mindset’ thing occurred to me in a slightly different way over the course of a recent week with the Mazda CX-6e Azami. Careful management has helped Mazda build an enviable reputation in this country over six decades, focusing on a top-shelf, customer-focused retail network handling the sales and service of an ever-improving range of price-competitive, quality products. To the point where I’ve attended events in other parts of the world where senior execs from rival brands have sidled up and asked me why Mazda’s been so successful in Australia (while it hasn't always been elsewhere). Which brings us back to the CX-6e. The 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV mid-size pure-electric siblings are the product of Mazda’s 50:50 joint-venture with Chinese giant Changan. Imported from China, aside from anything else, they’re an expedient, Deepal-based way to get on the EV wave and help Mazda grapple with the impacts of the federal government’s NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standard) scheme. To a loyal Mazda customer, keen to go EV for the first time, either would appear to be the perfect choice. They're sleek, well equipped, sharply priced relative to alternate options like the Tesla Model 3 or Model Y and most importantly, they wear the Mazda logo on the nose. So, put yourself in the shoes of that Mazda loyalist. You trust the dealer because they’ve always been good to you. You’re happy after the routine test drive, you’re up to speed on the whole charging thing and you decide to treat yourself by opting for the top shelf CX-6e Azami at $59,990, drive-away. The new car smell is intoxicating, as always. But once that starts to fade, the realisation hits. Despite everything that drew you to this car in the first place, it’s not as enjoyable as you thought it would be. For a start, the ride is firm. Like, really firm. Every little imperfection in the road surface makes it through to your backside. Cresting a decent speed bump causes major upheaval. Much as you want to, you can’t un-notice it. The suspension appears to be tuned to manage the CX-6e's just over 2.1-tonne weight without enough attention paid to compliance. The family isn’t happy. Then other niggles start to emerge. The flush door handles that pull out at a roughly 35-degree angle are an ergonomic challenge; an issue compounded by surprisingly heavy doors. The camera-based mirrors, interior and external, that seemed so novel and high-tech at first have become more trouble than they’re worth. With no natural depth of field, the interior rearview always takes your eyes half a beat to pull focus on, while the screens in the front doors for the side views also lack depth and feel like tech for tech’s sake. The broad, offset-to-the-left multimedia screen looks impressive, but almost as soon as your eyes leave the road to focus on the in-screen ventilation controls or audio set-up you receive a curt rap over the knuckles from the car telling you to pay attention and keep your eyes on the road. That’s annoying, so you decide you want to turn that function off, as well as the incessant over-speed warning and overly attentive fatigue warning. And you can, after shuffling through screens, but the system defaults them back to on. After. Every. Drive. And speaking of the climate control system. On a hot, late spring day it takes its sweet time to cool the cabin or respond to auto temperature inputs. What on Earth is going on? The more you live with it, the less the CX-6e feels like a Mazda. The interior layout, even details like the typefaces used across the car and in the screens don’t align with the rest of the Mazda range or the examples you’ve previously owned. You’re confused and starting to fall out of love with the CX-6e. And despite the positive experiences you’ve had with Mazda over a long period, your affection for the brand is in jeopardy, too. And that’s the ‘customer mindset’ thought that struck me during a week-long stint in the CX-6e. How bad would it feel to sense you intensely dislike a car you thought you’d love? And are this model’s shortcomings enough to turn even loyal customers off buying another Mazda? Could what seemed like a clever short-cut to EV options in the local Mazda line-up be a damaging misstep in terms of brand reputation? That’s a tough one to answer at this stage. But put it this way, as a LARP Mazda CX-6e owner I’m in post-purchase regret mode after just one week.

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.

Kia’s EV5 electric mid-size SUV is about to get a major update in Australia.  A facelifted EV5 has just appeared in Australian sales approval documents for the first time. The EV5 is Kia’s best-selling fully-electric model on sale in 2026, edging out the smaller EV3 for the title. It tackles the Toyota bZ4X ($55,990) as well as hugely popular rivals the BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and Tesla Model Y ($58,900), all before on-road costs. The new EV5 should arrive in showrooms in mid-2027. The EV5 will receive a minor power boost for its updated model. The two-wheel drive variant’s single electric motor now produces 175kW instead of 160kW, while the dual motors in the all-wheel drive make 249kW, up from 230kW. Kia will continue to equip the EV5 with either a 64kWh or 88kWh battery, but we don't know if they will provide greater driving range.  The current EV5 offers between 400km and 555km of driving range, depending on the variant, according to WLTP standards.  It’s rumoured the EV5 will feature an updated ride and handling tune for Aussie roads in line with other models in Kia’s line-up.  The 2027 EV5 has some subtle styling tweaks for its mid-life update, with some new body creases and a sharper design.  It also features what looks to be a front camera bar fixed to the grille area. The car is basically dimensionally identical to its soon-to-be predecessor, measuring 4613mm long, 1875mm wide, 1715mm tall, with a 2750mm wheelbase.  The EV5 is scheduled to launch in mid-2027, but it’s unclear exactly when it will hit showrooms.  Buyers can expect more official news on the updated EV5 before the end of 2026. Kia will reveal pricing closer to the new EV5’s arrival, with a firm price yet to be confirmed.   The EV5 range currently kicks off from $56,770, with prices rising up to $71,770 for the top-spec car (before on-road costs). 

Honda Australia is aware of the ongoing demand for its Rigeline ute, which is currently only built in left-hand drive for markets like the USA. With a new-generation version confirmed to be the works, the CEO of Honda Australia, Jay Joseph, told CarsGuide how the local division was putting its hand up for right-hand drive development early in the process in order to increase its chances of an Australian debut. “There hasn’t been a dealer visit yet anywhere where that didn’t come up,” he said. “The best time to think about homologating a vehicle for right-hand drive is at the inception of design,” he explained. “It’s something we’re looking at and we’re in conversations about. Where that will lead, I can't say for now. It takes time, and we’ve got to do the math and it has to make sense.” Joseph, who spent much of his career working on Honda’s North American business and spent significant time in Japan understanding the company’s global footprint, was also upfront about the challenges facing the sought-after Ridgeline badge for our market. “There has to be sufficient volume, so it can’t be dependent on Australia alone. There would have to be enough right-hand drive markets raising their hands with similar development needs. “The key factor in that is when we look across all of the certification items, is there enough compatibility that we’re not doubling down on development? If we can keep that pretty simple, then it has a chance.” The Ridgeline, which has existed since 2005 and is currently in its second-generation, doesn’t ride on a ladder frame like rival dual-cabs. Instead, it sits on a large vehicle monocoque platform, which also underpins other US-developed left-hand drive vehicles, including the Pilot and Passport. “These vehicles have a much more capable rear differential some really cool features which we haven’t brought to market yet, using forward radar for some really interesting things when off-roading,” Joseph said. He said Honda had been holding these more rugged models from our market for some time. “Moving a steering wheel from one side to another in a unibody construction vehicle is a heavy undertaking, and as a company, we just don’t take shortcuts on things like that," he added. “The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago; the second best time is today, and we didn’t plant that tree on those vehicles 40 years ago so we need to start thinking about it now.” The recently confirmed third-generation Ridgeline is promised to gain even more rugged design and capabilities, although the brand said earlier this year that it would continue to be built exclusively at the company’s Alabama factory. Joseph pointed to the Honda MDX large SUV, which was briefly sold in Australia between 2003 and 2006 as proof that the brand could source cars from the USA if needed. The elephant in the room for Honda’s ute aspirations is a hot-off-the-press memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi on use of its Triton ladder frame as Honda looks to expand into South East Asian markets with a more robust commercial offering. The team-up between Japanese stalwarts is understood to produce a Honda-badged version of the Mitsubishi ute. Joseph said this was a “could-be” solution for Australia in the short term. “Exactly what form that takes, we’ll see. It’s too early for us to confirm anything, but there’s a possibility there,” he said of a re-badged Triton. “I suppose its more of a statement of intent that it’s the vehicle missing from the portfolio in this region particularly.” Interestingly, Joseph’s vision for a Honda-badged ute was a bit more holistic in matching up with the rest of Honda’s portfolio outside of a strictly automotive use-case, which he said could help set the brand apart from its rivals. “My perspective is that would be very appealing when you look beyond automotive. We’ve got power sports, power equipment. Say somebody buys a Honda portable generator for their caravan, if they could tow that caravan with a Honda, have the generator in the tray, I like the way that packages together. “Even somebody who buys a CRF250 or CRF450 for autocross or trail-riding, they should be able to put that in another Honda, so I’m very attracted to the idea of it. But, it still has to pencil up as a business and it’s too early to say if it does.” On the Triton team-up, Joseph said the Honda ownership experience, which he said “improves as time goes on” for current owners, would be a key point of differentiation from both the Triton and Nissan’s Navara, which also uses the same underpinnings. “If we did do something like that, one of the things that Honda does differently is a very different ownership experience. “We, you know, having the price promise and fixed-price servicing, it's very appealing to people because we have that brand trust, because we have that reputation for taking care of our customers and making sure we have parts available. “It's a completely different purchase experience and process, and I think different decision-making for the buyer. So, that would be one consideration we’d be looking at.”

Aussie buyers have a new hybrid compact SUV from Europe to consider. Volkswagen has just confirmed its next-generation T-Roc will launch in Australia with a mild-hybrid set-up.  The T-Roc will rival the full-hybrid Hyundai Kona ($33,700, before on-road costs) and Kia Seltos ($39,990, drive-away). The brand says the new T-Roc will arrive in Aussie showrooms in early 2027. The next-generation T-Roc will feature a mild-hybrid set-up in Australia at this stage. Volkswagen said the new set-up will contribute to lower fuel consumption and provide a responsive performance.  VW has not confirmed yet whether the full-hybrid variants of the T-Roc will land Down Under.  "We’re continuing to evaluate opportunities for the T-Roc range in Australia and will share further details as they become available," a spokesperson for VW Australia told CarsGuide. "At this stage, we have no additional variants to announce." The fully-hybrid T-Roc uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to produce either 100kW/288Nm or 125kW/310Nm. Power has dropped slightly across both grades compared to the outgoing petrol line-up (previously 110kW/250Nm and 140kW/320Nm). However, the new entry-level hybrid gains a noticeable torque bump to 288Nm, while the up-spec grade delivers 310Nm. The full-hybrid T-Roc is equipped with a 1.6kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, which enables the car to drive on electric-only power at speeds less than 60km/h without heavy acceleration.   The T-Roc boasts a more rounded overall design, with sharp creases either side of the bonnet. It has a sleek headlight design and single daytime running strip with black cladding on the grille, air intakes and wheel arches, as well as on the roof rails. Volkswagen is promising more interior space and increased practicality as well as better technology, safety and convenience features. VW has moved the gear selector to a steering column stalk, freeing up more centre console space. Inside, there’s a rectangular digital driver display and central multimedia screen, along with plenty of physical buttons on the steering wheel. The German brand said the car will have its latest software system, which has new driver assistance technologies and comfort-focused features. Volkswagen will reveal pricing for the new T-Roc close to its early 2027 arrival date. The current generation T-Roc kicks off from $38,990, with prices rising up to $49,990, before on-road costs. Buyers can expect an increase on those prices for the T-Roc’s new generation, with it likely to kick off from over $40,000 when it arrives. This will place it in a similar bracket to other conventional hybrid rivals, including the Toyota Corolla Cross (from $37,440), Hyundai Kona (from $36,950) and incoming Kia Seltos (from $37,990).

Toyota launched the Performance Hybrid version of its LandCruiser 300 Series in Australia earlier this year and it’s claimed to only be making up a small portion of overall sales. So far diesel versions of the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series are claimed to be outselling the petrol-electric Performance Hybrid trims almost seven-to-one. Toyota says the amount of LandCruiser 300 Series Performance Hybrid sales is what it expected. “Yeah, it’s going well,” said Toyota Australia Vice President national sales, marketing and franchise operations John Pappas to CarsGuide. “The Performance Hybrid is sitting where we thought it would be, which is roughly at around 15 per cent of our sales of the overall LandCruiser .” Toyota sold a total of 9787 LandCruiser wagons through the first nine months of this year, which is up 10.1 per cent year-on-year. A small portion of these sales include the LandCruiser 70 Series wagon and troop carrier. Toyota doesn’t split out sales and instead only reports it as LandCruiser wagon and LandCruiser pick-up/cab-chassis. Part of the LandCruiser wagon’s recent sales success is due to the runout of the Y62-generation Nissan Patrol. The new Y63 Patrol is due to launch in early 2027. This improvement in LandCruiser wagon sales defies Toyota’s overall sales so far in 2026. It sold a total of 152,944 vehicles until the end of September, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year. Toyota is still on track to be the best-selling carmaker in Australia in 2026. This will make it the 31st consecutive year. As it stands, both the diesel and Performance Hybrid versions of the LandCruiser 300 Series are above the threshold for ‘Type 2’ vehicles under the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). The threshold for ‘Type 2’ vehicles in 2026 is 180g/km and the LC300 diesel and Performance Hybrid are claimed to emit 235g/km and 220g/km, respectively. This theoretically means each LC300 imported into Australia attracts an NVES fine of $2750 and $2000, respectively this year. Toyota may not need to pay this fine if it can import other vehicles under the CO2 thresholds, or purchase credits from other carmakers. Toyota has previously warned that price rises may occur, especially on models that are high-emitting. “Due to the challenging NVES targets for commercial vehicles from 2027 onwards, we cannot rule out price increases,” said Pappas. The LandCruiser 300 Series Performance Hybrid is dubbed the most powerful LandCruiser sold to date in Australia. It has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with an electric motor for total system outputs of 341kW and 790Nm. This is 114kW and 90Nm more than the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel. Only two versions of the LC300 Performance Hybrid are offered in Australia - Sahara ZX and GR Sport. They’re priced from $156,740 and $156,990, before on-road costs, respectively. This is roughly $9000 more than the equivalent diesel-powered version. While the LC300 Performance Hybrid can still tow 3500kg, it only offers five seats and is claimed to consume more fuel than the diesel.

Jaecoo has just given its Toyota RAV4 competitor some special flair.  The brand has unveiled the Jaecoo J7 Black Edition as the range-topping grade for the mid-size SUV, starting from $49,990 (drive-away).  It’s $2000 more expensive than the plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive grade of the J7 ($47,990) and is $10,000 more expensive than the base PHEV grade of the car ($39,990).  The new sleek and blacked-out J7 is much cheaper than the bigger BYD Sealion 6 AWD ($52,990) and AWD PHEV grades of the Toyota RAV4 ($64,015), both before on-road costs. The Black Edition will arrive in Aussie dealerships in November 2026 as a permanent fixture, with no scheduled departure date. The car features a suite of blacked out exterior finishes that replace chrome details, including on the vertical grille, wheels, mirrors and roof rails.  Inside the cabin, there’s a dark headliner and pillar trims, while the car keeps its 14.8-inch central multimedia screen and its 10.25-inch digital driver display.  Seats are wrapped in a synthetic black leather, with heating and ventilating functionality in the front ones.  Omoda Jaecoo said the new look is designed to provide a more striking presence on the road.  The Black Edition’s PHEV set-up is the same one found in the J7 Summit AWD grade, which combines a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors to make 260kW and 490Nm.  This means it also has the same AWD system that has an electric motor on each axle. This is more power than AWD grades of the Toyota RAV4 that only produce 227kW, with the Japanese brand not quoting a combined torque figure for the car.  It’s a minor step up on power over the most powerful BYD Sealion 6 example that has 253kW and 550Nm.  The car can DC charge from 30 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes.  The J7 is one of three models sold under the Jaecoo name, joined by the J5 small SUV and J8 large SUV. The J5 small SUV launched in January 2026, with its EV variant surging to become the brand’s best-selling model.  The J7 is the second-best selling model in the line-up, followed by the J8 and the Omoda 9. The Omoda 9 three-row SUV is currently the only Omoda-badged model remaining on sale, but buyers can expect two new models from next year.  The Omoda 4 small SUV and the Omoda 7 mid-size SUV are both scheduled to arrive in the first half of 2027. 

The current, cool and confident Land Rover Defender has been a big success for the iconic British brand. But for some, its shift to monocoque construction took away an element of ultimate toughness inherent in a body-on-frame four-wheel drive. So, if you're hankering for the good old days of a ladder-chassis Defender, complete with the boxy, upright design made famous over close to 80 years, your (nearly) new car has arrived. The Defender Classic V8, hand‑built using re-engineered and upgraded original Solihull‑produced 2012-2016 donor vehicles, is now available for commission in Australia. Defender Classic is an official factory division of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), housing expert craftspeople with the restoration knowledge and skills required to deliver what the brand said is “the ultimate expression of customisation” with every vehicle made to an individual specification. Powered by a genuine 298kW/515Nm 5.0‑litre naturally aspirated Land Rover V8 with eight‑speed automatic transmission, the Classic V8 is available in a range of 90 and 110 body styles, priced from £209,000 (~A$398,000), plus “applicable delivery and local taxes.” Three body styles - 90 Station Wagon, 90 Soft Top and 110 Station Wagon - will be followed by more variants soon with extensive customisation available, including “exterior colour palettes, hood colours and styles, interior materials and lifestyle accessories.” Options include Heritage, Standard or Adventure grille designs, black or silver exterior packs, 16-inch ‘Wolf’ steel wheels (finished in Black or Limestone) or 18-inch ‘Sawtooth’ alloy wheels (in Gloss Black or Diamond-turned with Black contrast finish). The Defender Classic V8 features upgrades including LED headlights, four-piston Alcon brakes, pistol shifter gear selector as well as premium leather across the dashboard, seats, door panels and roof lining. Subtly integrated modern tech includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and digital radio managed through a 4.8-inch multimedia touchscreen. Options include Premium seats (with performance-focused Recaros available on certain models), a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen system (integrated within a custom fascia), an Explorer Pack (including a Ply Guys Camper Conversion) and a Suspension Upgrade Kit with revised Eibach coil spring rates and anti-roll bars and Bilstein dampers. Introducing Australian availability of the Defender Classic V8, Defender Classic Director Dominic Elms said, “Since its introduction, our Works Bespoke program has become the ultimate expression of Defender Classic ownership, with clients commissioning highly individual vehicles tailored to their personal tastes and lifestyles.  “The program has enabled our teams to showcase extraordinary levels of craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail, with every Defender Classic V8 handcrafted to an individual’s specification.  “As we expand into new markets, we look forward to helping new clients bring their vision to life through a truly custom commissioning experience,” he said.