Ute News

Budget Korean 4x4s get major upgrades

Hyundai looks increasingly likely to forge its own path when it comes to its now-confirmed mid-size ute, with the brand's Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival to ditch diesel in favour of petrol and electrification to secure sales both in Australia and the USA.

Chinese carmakers like BYD are starting to take over market share globally and established players are starting to feel the crunch.

Where does the Kia Tasman go from here? Is having a conventional diesel engine as the sole choice enough to run with the best-sellers? Should the Tasman follow the lead of the Ranger Raptor by going down the off-road performance path, to create a halo model for the rest of the range to bask beneath? Or is going hybrid the answer? The answer may shock you!

From one of the oldest utes in Australia to two of the newest – and most technically-intriguing. This is what is shaping up for Nissan locally moving forward, as it shifts up two gears to regain the much-stronger standing it enjoyed for decades against the best-selling Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max. That's right, two utes to take on the tough one-tonne class.

Diesel as a fuel source might not be dead yet, but the vultures are circling, waiting for their prey to finally stop moving. Don’t believe me? It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see into a future already so clearly laid out, and not just by newcomer brands, but by some of the biggest proponents of diesel engines in the history of the fuel.

Ford is reportedly delaying production of successors to electric versions of its F-150 and Transit as the Blue Oval looks to focus on smaller, more affordable electric cars.

It’s widely regarded as a great way to exfoliate, detoxify and hydrate the skin, while some believe it can provide relief from muscle and joint pain. But the type of mud bath Ford Australia has been applying to its up-coming Ford Ranger Super Duty is far from a therapeutic beauty routine.

Two automotive powerhouses are joining forces to wage an assault on the mid-size ute segment.Hyundai and General Motors (GM) are officially co-developing five new cars, including a mid-size ute that would put it on a collision course with the most popular options in Australia, such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.Such a ute could revive the Colorado name in Australia, which was last worn by GM’s former brand Holden.Hyundai Australia has recently gone on the record stating it will offer a ute in the near future, but hasn’t revealed what that might be.Hyundai Australia CEO Don Romano told CarsGuide everything is on the table, from reusing the Kia Tasman platform to leveraging its partnership with GM to produce what could be a modern Hyundai version of something like the Colorado.The latter could be the vehicle that comes into Australia to help it stand apart from sibling brand Kia’s Tasman.Reuters reported the Hyundai/GM partnership will develop a ute for Central and South America with petrol and hybrid options. It is planning to launch the vehicle in 2028. That doesn’t sound like the vehicle is destined for Australian shores, but the partnership is targeting production of 800,000 utes a year, which could bolster its export chances.Chief Investment Officer at Seoul-based hedge fund Billionfold Asset Management, An Hyung-jin, told Reuters the new ute will struggle to compete with cut-price Chinese rivals.BYD already has a big foothold in South America, where it has just started producing vehicles in Brazil.BYD’s Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute has made an immediate impact in Australia, and more Chinese utes from Chery, Geely, LDV and MG are headed our way.

Records are made to be broken.