Ute News

Australians will once again be able to buy the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series with a manual gearbox.

The Toyota RAV4 hybrid topped sales charts again in November, but it isn’t likely to take the number one spot from the Ford Ranger this year.

Mazda revealed a facelift BT-50 at the Thailand Motor Expo, but there’s a twist.

Like the Ram pick-up truck but wanted something a bit smaller? Like the size of a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux? Well, according to Ram’s United States boss so do they, and a ute similar in size to the Ranger or Hilux could be coming.

Last week, Ford dropped a bombshell by announcing the Ranger Super Duty line of tough workhorse utes. This week, we’ve learned that it will incorporate the big North American-market F-250 Super Duty’s eight-stud, steel wheel and all-terrain tyre package.

Here are a few of our favourite special-edition and/or unique ute grades denied to Australian buyers.

Some cars just seem to inspire such blind loyalty – such frothing, furious devotion – that they can get away with anything. And sometimes that 'anything' becomes very clear once a rival product launches.

A mid-week press release from Ford citing in-house research that showed "sixty percent of Australian drivers would be more likely to buy an electrified vehicle if it offered greater towing capability" – before highlighting the Ranger PHEV's 3.5-tonne towing capacity – didn't go unnoticed at BYD's Australian offices, with one executive suggesting the move proved the Shark 6 has the Blue Oval rattle

GMSV has announced details of its genuine accessories range for the Silverado 1500 pick-up. Comprising two bespoke packs along with standalone options, the genuine accessories will help owners and future buyers toughen up and customise their big utes. The Chevrolet Silverado is available in three trims in Australia, where it is locally converted to right-hand drive. The LTZ Premium ($130,500, before on-road costs) is focused on towing and carrying big cargo while the ZR2 ($138,500) has an off-road bent. Reflecting each trim’s target audience, GMSV has put together a pair of genuine accessory packs. The ZR2’s Terrain Pack costs $4192 (plus GST and installation) and features a soft tonneau cover, sports bar, weathershields, black exterior bashing, heavy-duty side steps and sill protectors.Meanwhile the LTZ Premium Black Pack is a $3032 (plus GST and installation) indulgence featuring black  20-inch alloy wheels and black badging all around, right down to the Z71 emblems and Chevy ‘bow-tie’ badge."We know that so many of our customers personalise their Silverado, and the launch of these dealer-fitted accessory packs will give them even more choice, while at the same time simplifying the process,” said GM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Jess Bala.Aside from the packs, there’s now a massive catalogue of stand-alone accessories. You can get soft, hard roll-up, lockable tri-fold or a key fob-controlled electric rolling tonneau covers, a swing-out toolbox, cargo nets, cross rails, tailgate gap cover and cross rails, on the practicality side of things. Visual enhancements include weathershields, your choice of silver or black script, sill guards, black or chrome side steps, a sports bar and black wheel nuts. The Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium can be optioned with a bonnet deflector, black badges and emblems, different mudguards and high-gloss black 20-inch alloy wheels.Inside, goodies like a centre console organiser, all-weather floormats and lockable rear-seat storage container are available from dealers. On the towing side of things, GMSV dealers offer 50mm tow balls for up to 3500kg braked towing or a larger 70mm ball that covers you for 4500kg. Compatible trailers can have a camera that aids visibility by ‘seeing through’ the load. As the accessories are genuine GM products, GMSV Australia and New Zealand warranties the parts with the balance of the new vehicle warranty, or 24 months/50,000km from the date of fitment, whichever is greater. The Silverado 1500 was one of the earlier arrivals in Australia’s burgeoning American pick-up ute market along with the RAM 1500. Ford has arrived with its F-150, and Toyota’s Tundra is in dealerships now as well. Chevrolet’s Silverado has a 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine which develops 313kW and 624Nm in 1500 guise. A Silverado 2500 HD is also available packing a 350kW/1322Nm ‘Cummins’ 6.6-litre turbo-diesel. 

GWM has cleared the way for a beefed up version of its dual-cab ute.An updated version of the Ute Cannon has been approved for sale by the Federal Government with a new 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine and nine-speed automatic combination.Details lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts showed the new engine ups power to 135kW, but torque hasn’t been revealed.Overseas this engine pumps out 135kW and 480Nm, which is likely to carry over to Australia.The extra grunt elevates the Ute Cannon’s braked towing capacity from 3200kg to the benchmark 3500kg, matching rivals such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Kia Tasman and Isuzu D-Max.This new engine will only be available on top-end variants with four-wheel drive and a nine speed auto transmission.Cheaper variants maintain the current 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel motor that is fitted with either an eight-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission.The new engine is expected to be paired with a range of interior upgrades, too.This includes a 7.0-inch digital driver display, a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, in-built dash cam, redesigned centre console and wireless device charger.GWM has reportedly improved the cabin experience by vastly improving the sound insulation.It also has slightly revised styling with big GWM embossed lettering on the tailgate in place of the GWM badge.Expect to see the updated GWM Ute in dealerships early next year.The Ute’s 2.4-litre is one of the smaller capacity engines in the local ute market, but this is expected to become the norm as the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) takes effect next year. Car makers will be fined for every vehicle they sell that produces CO2 over a certain level. This CO2 threshold will get lower every year.Isuzu has just revealed a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that is likely to replace the 3.0-litre unit currently powering top-end D-Max utes and MU-X 4WDs.Ford is rumoured to be dropping the bi-turbo diesel engine in favour of a single turbo unit found in the current entry-level Ranger.These moves are expected to help those vehicles avoid penalties for a few years and prolong their life in Australia.