Wagon News

The return of an Audi wagon favourite is on the cards for Australia. The Audi A6 Allroad could return to the brand’s Aussie showrooms for the first time since 2024. The A6 Allroad remains a strong prospect for Australia, but the local branch was unable to confirm its arrival just yet. "This model is currently under evaluation for the Australian market," a spokesperson for Audi Australia said. "This model is highly appealing, and we would welcome it for Australia." It comes after the car appeared in Australian sales approval documents earlier this year, hinting a confirmation is not too far away. There is potential for A6 Allroad to launch as soon as the end of this year. It will again be available with a V6 diesel engine, but Audi has also introduced a plug-in hybrid set-up to the range for the first time.  The A6 Allroad doesn't have any direct rivals in Australia. It will have to compete with the much cheaper BYD Seal 6 Touring PHEV wagon, starting from $34,990 (before on-road costs). Pricing details have not been revealed yet, but it is expected to sit above the sedan variant currently on sale, starting from $123,600 (before on-road costs).  The A6 Allroad's 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel has more power than its predecessor, boasting 220kW and 580Nm , while the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol PHEV set-up boosts power to 270kW and 500Nm.  The diesel variant is marginally faster from 0-100km/h than the PHEV at 5.4 seconds.  Audi said the PHEV has an all-electric driving range of 95km from its 26kWh battery.  It offers fuel consumption of as little as 2.6L/100km, when the battery is fully charged.  The car does not have DC charging capabilities, but AC charging at 11kW takes around 2.5 hours.  All A6 Allroad models come with all-wheel drive as standard.  On the inside, there is an 11.9-inch digital driver display and 14.5-inch central touchscreen, along with four-zone automatic air conditioning.  There is also a panoramic sunroof available with a dimmable setting as opposed to a conventional shade. 

BYD’s Fangchengbao brand has released official imagery of a new electric shooting brake wagon ahead of its launch in the domestic market in the third quarter of 2026. Dubbed the Fangchengbao Formula S GT, this is essentially a shooting brake version of the Formula S sedan that's already been shown. It forms as a key rival to the Porsche Taycan which is available both as a sedan and shooting brake wagon. As reported by China’s Autohome, this car will come with a fully electric powertrain with the electric motors being fed by a second-generation Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP), allowing flash charging capabilities. No official power, range or performance figures have been announced yet, but it’s expected there will be multiple variants. It’s also understood the Formula S GT features adaptive suspension, as well as semi-autonomous driving capabilities due to the LiDAR sensor on the roof. In terms of design, this electric liftback bears some similarities to the Denza Z9 GT which is already confirmed for an Australian launch later this year. It also has a similar footprint, with the Formula S GT measuring 5.0 metres long and 2.0 metres wide, with a 3.0-metre wheelbase. Some exterior design highlights include semi-flush door handles, diamond-shaped tail-lights, plus an active ducktail rear spoiler. Fangchengbao hasn’t officially revealed any imagery of the Formula S GT’s interior yet. At this stage it’s unclear whether the Formula S GT, or even the regular Formula S, will come to Australia. The Fangchengbao brand doesn’t have a presence in Australia, though a few of its models are badged as Denza models locally. Even if it comes to Australia, it’ll compete closely with the Denza Z9 GT, which is due to arrive before the end of 2026. Power will come from three electric motors with a total system output of 850kW. This will allow for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 2.7 seconds. Additionally, the Z9 GT will offer flash charging capabilities at up to 1500kW.

Audi has released the pricing and specifications for its ballistic RS5 performance sedan and wagon in Australia as it gears up to arrive in showrooms in the second half of this year.  It will start from $179,900 (before on-road costs), which is roughly $10,000 more than the previous generation of the car sold in Australia. There is also a wagon variant of the RS5, costing an extra $3000. The RS5 shapes up as a rival to other European performance mid-size passenger cars in the segment, such as the hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63S and the petrol-powered BMW M4. Audi’s example is cheaper than the Mercedes and the BMW, which have price tags above the $185K mark.  It is $70,000 more than the smaller RS3 and $70,000 less than the flagship V8-powered RS6, but unlike its siblings, the RS5 has been given electrified power.  The RS5 uses a plug-in hybrid set-up, which pairs a 2.9-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with a powerful single electric motor.  This combines to produce a total of 470kW and 825Nm, which is less than C63S, but more than the M4. It is capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds, courtesy of its all-wheel drive system.  One of the other key upgrades on the RS5 is the addition of an electric motor incorporated into the rear transaxle to distribute torque efficiently.  The 26kWh battery has an electric-only driving range of up to 78km, but it can only be charged via an AC adapter, taking 2 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge.  2026 Audi RS5 pricing Australia   2026 Audi RS5 engine and efficiency   2026 Audi RS5 standard features   Other standard features include:  Bang and Olufsen premium sound system Red brake callipers Acoustic glazed front windows Privacy glass Flat-bottom steering wheel Heated, ventilated front seats with massage Heated rear outer seats Panoramic glass roof Head-up display Tri-zone climate control  2026 Audi RS5 safety The 2026 Audi RS5 has not been crash tested.  Standard safety features:  Auto emergency braking Pedestrian detection Adaptive cruise control Lane departure warning Lane change assist Rear cross alert 360-degree camera Speed sign recognition   2026 Audi RS5 warranty and servicing  The Audi RS5 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with an eight-year battery warranty. There is also a 12-year warranty bodywork corrosion perforation.  The five-year warranty can be extended up to nine years when additional servicing and roadside assistance is purchased.  A five-year servicing plan is available, with two-year extensions up to four years available after this.

It’s monstrously powerful, staggeringly quick and charges in less than 10 minutes - it’s the Denza Z9 GT electric wagon and it’s been officially confirmed for Australia. BYD’s luxury division Denza says its Z9 GT will make its local debut at the 2026 Melbourne motor show this weekend with deliveries commencing towards the end of the year.  “Australia is a market that demands performance without compromise, and the Z9 GT has been engineered to meet or exceed expectations,” said Denza Australia Chief Operating Officer Mark Harland. “The Denza Z9GT proves that electrification can deliver not just efficiency, but exhilarating performance, extraordinary safety and genuine long-distance usability." Pricing and full specifications have yet to be announced for Australia, but Denza has confirmed that our Z9 GT will be the first from the brand to use the new “blade battery 2.0 technology” and “Flash ultra charging”. This tech gives the battery 1500kW DC charging capability to fill from 10-97 per cent in nine minutes. Australia's current fastest charger can dish out 400kW. Denza Australia also confirmed the Z9 GT will have a range of 1036km (CLTC) and that means the local variant will have the large 122.5kWh battery. Expect about 20 per cent less in the real world. Three motors power the Z9 GT and produce a combined 850kW for a staggering 0-100km/h time of just 2.7 seconds. The Z9 GT will also have air suspension providing what is expected to be a comfortable and luxurious ride. The Z9 GT has a decadent cabin with Nappa leather upholstery massaging and ventilated seats, a 50-inch augmented reality head-up display, premium stereo system, built-in fridge and 128 colour ambient lighting.  So how much will the Z9 GT cost?  That will be revealed closer to the models on-sale date but it is expected to be a lot less than the Porsche Taycan’s $181,000 starting price. The Denza B8 large plug-in hybrid SUV is the most expensive model currently of the brand with a list price of $97,990. The Z9 GT could extend beyond the $100,000 mark in Australia for the highest specification. BYD launched its luxury sub-brand Denza in Australia in early 2026 and led its arrival with the B5 and B8 hybrid SUVs. The brand's first fully electric vehicle to come to Australia is D9 people mover with the Z9 GT becoming the fourth model to launch in the brand’s local expansion.

Zeekr has revealed an updated version of its 7GT electric wagon over in China, and it is scheduled to land in Australia next year. The current model is only on sale in left-hand drive markets, including China, as well as Germany, the Netherlands and other European markets. The 7GT has already been shown off in Australia, but it remains down the line for the brand, with several models launching before its speculated 2027 arrival. It will be a rival to other popular family EVs including the Tesla Model Y and the BYD Sealion 7, looking to build on the early success of the 7X SUV. The big change on the updated 7GT is the addition of a 900-volt platform, up from 800-volt to give it even speedier charge times. Official charging and driving range figures have not been revealed yet. The current 800-volt platform is capable of charging from 10-80 per cent in around 10 minutes, so expect a bump on that figure. The previous model of the 7GT offered a driving range of more than 800km, according to the generally more lenient China Light-Vehicle testing cycle (CLTC). The 7GT comes in rear- and all-wheel drive variants, which have both received a boost to power. The single rear-mounted electric motor variant produces 370kW, while the dual electric motor adds a 215kW front-mounted unit. It can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in less than three seconds. It measures up at 4858mm long, 1900mm wide, 1445mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2925mm, making it generally bigger than the Model Y, but more similarly sized to the Sealion 7. The 7GT is expected to launch in China in the second quarter of this year, before heading Australia next year. Zeekr's 2026 Australia plans include an updated version of its X small SUV, and the introduction of the 009 people mover and 8X large premium SUV.

V8 engines in Australia have been on the decline with increasingly stringent emissions requirements and changes in production and demand. It has seen the recent departure of V8 favourites such as the 4.5-litre twin-turbo diesel found in the Toyota LandCruiser. The options are continuing to fade with the next-generation Nissan Patrol ditching its 5.6-litre diesel V8, in favour of a twin-turbo six-cylinder set-up. For those wondering though, here are all the new cars still on sale in 2026 with a V8 engine.   Aston Martin    Aston Martin uses the Mercedes-AMG tuned 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 across most of its range.  This includes the Vantage coupe and convertible models, producing 489kW and 800Nm.  The engine is also found in the DB12, which is a V8-exclusive model. Previous DB generations have had the 5.9-litre V12, such as the DB9 and DB11. The DB12’s V8 produces slightly more power than the Vantage at 500kW, and has the same 800Nm. Aston Martin’s DBX SUV is the other model to house a V8 engine, which produces 405kW and 700Nm. The juiced up DBX 707 has 520kW and 700Nm.  Audi   Audi has a petrol V8 in four models, across both its sedan and SUV range.  The top-spec limited edition RS6 Avant GT is the most expensive Audi model on sale in Australia, starting from nearly $400,000 (before on-road costs), although even the regular RS6 is a smidge over $250,000. Its 4.0-litre V8 engine produces 463kW and 850Nm, which is the same as in the related RS7. The standard versions of the SQ7 and SQ8 SUVs have lesser power outputs at 441kW/800Nm, while the range-topping RSQ8 Performance produces 471kW/850Nm.    Ford Ford has three V8 models on sale for its Mustang GT sports car, which all employ 5.0-litre unit, producing up to 347kW and 550Nm.    Bentley    The Flying Spur and Continental GT luxury grand tourers both have V8 power, with the Continental GT, a V8-exclusive.  Bentley’s VW-group sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has been given some hybrid assistance in the top-end version of the Continental GT, boosting performance to 575kW and 1000Nm. The ultra high-end Bentayga SUV meanwhile shares its powerplant with the aforementioned Audi models, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo without plug-in assistance producing 478kW/850Nm. BMW BMW has one V8 petrol engine which features in five models on sale in Australia.  The M5 adds a plug-in hybrid set-up to its V8, producing 535kW and 1000Nm.  The M8 uses the same 4.4-litre engine, but it does not have an electrification, so it 'only' produces 460kW and 750Nm.  This V8 is also found in several performance-oriented SUVs from BMW’s line-up, such as the X5, X6 and X7, as well as the full-size XM, which also employs a plug-in hybrid set-up.  It was recently reported BMW has plans to continue its production of V8 engines in the carmaker’s Hams Hall facility in the United Kingdom, with North American demand continuing to be strong despite emissions laws closing in around the world.  Mercedes-Benz   The 4.0-litre V8 engine continues to be available on several Mercedes-Benz models, such as its luxury limousine S-Class and Maybach.  It gets a plug-in hybrid twist on the ballistic GT63 SE, taking figures to a staggering 620kW and 1400Nm. The petrol-only GT63 has the same 4.0-litre engine, producing up to 450kW and 800Nm. Mercedes’ latest generation C63 sedan only features a twin-turbo hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder set-up, which has proved an unpopular swap compared to the previous V8.  Like BMW, Mercedes also employs its V8 across high-end variants in its SUV range.   Land Rover   Land Rover installs two V8 engines, which feature as part of its Defender and Range Rover line-ups.  The biggest V8 on offer is a 5.0-litre example, producing up to 368kW and 610Nm in the top-spec Defender model.  There is also a 4.4-litre hybrid unit found on many of the P-Series and Sport Range Rover variants, with a maximum of 467kW and 750Nm.  Lamborghini   Lamborghini has one V8 engine, which is available on its Temerario coupe and its Urus SUV.  It is a 4.0-litre example, producing up to 588kW and 950Nm.  Ferrari    Ferrari offers a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 engine on its Roma and Roma Spider two-door sports cars. Both cars have 456kW and 760Nm. The SF90 Stradale has a bigger 4.0-litre unit, which gets the assistance of a plug-in hybrid system to produce 574kW and 800Nm. Nissan  The Nissan Patrol 4WD currently on sale in Australia comes with a 5.6-litre V8 (298kW/560Nm), but that is about to change with the next-generation model. The incoming Patrol will launch in late 2026 with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 replacing the V8.  

There’s now officially a new best-selling Chinese brand in Australia.

BYD has revealed its new "Blade" battery capable of charging its electric vehicles in rapid time, according to reports. It is the second generation of the signature Blade battery, which is found on all of BYD’s electrified vehicles. Targeted charge times range from 10-70 per cent in five minutes, with a charge from 10-97 per cent taking just nine minutes. For reference, the BYD Sealion 7 currently on sale in Australia charges from 10-80 per cent in 38 minutes, so BYD’s latest battery offers a marked improvement. The battery has also been given some other boosts, including a five per cent higher energy density. One of the models it will debut on is the Denza Z9 GT, which is an all-electric wagon earmarked for Australia within the next year. It features a 122kWh unit offering a driving range of more than 1000km according to the more lenient CLTC measuring process. The Denza Z9 GT will take a little more than 5 minutes to charge from 10-70 per cent on a charger capable of the required output, while a 10-97 per cent charge will take roughly nine minutes. The brand said its new battery can also operate effectively in extreme temperatures, with 20-97 per cent charges at -20-degrees and -30-degrees both taking 12 minutes. The boosted charging times on these new batteries are in tandem with BYD’s recently-unveiled T-shaped megawatt-level charger. It is capable of adding around 400km of driving range in five minutes or a charging speed of two kilometres every second. It is claimed this new charging system is the first mass-produced liquid-cooled megawatt terminal for passenger vehicles. It has an overall bigger design, with dual-plug charging ability, which is enabled by the use of a buffer battery to operate without megawatt grid support. Even without the use of these super fast chargers, BYD claimed its new Blade battery charges 30-50 per cent faster than conventional EV batteries. BYD is targeting 20,000 of these new ‘Flash’ charging stations by the end of 2026, giving the brand a greater charging infrastructure landscape compared to rivals such as Tesla. Locally the boss of its Denza luxury arm has earmarked the possibility of BYD entering the charging hardware game, specifically to deploy the tech-leading megawatt-level chargers. Stay tuned for more on BYD's ambitious plans in 2026 as it plots a top-three finish for the year. The brand has already leapfrogged GWM in the first two months of the year to become Australia's current favourite Chinese brand.

The Skoda Superb is now available with a plug-in hybrid set-up, adding a new option to the wagon segment. 

Skoda has added a mild hybrid variant to its Octavia sedan and wagon line-up, revealing its Australian pricing and specifications. It starts from $43,990 (drive-away), for the sedan, with the wagon unit an extra $2000, as a part of a launch promotion. Before on-road costs pricing is $2000 cheaper than the drive-away. Volkswagen Australia has confirmed this deal will stay in place until at least the end of the second quarter of this year.  The Octavia’s new hybrid credentials see it shape up as a more comparable rival to the hybrid-exclusive and dominant player in the sedan segment, the Toyota Camry. Skoda’s Octavia hybrid is more than the Camry, while it comes in cheaper than up-spec versions of the Honda Accord hybrid. It's worth noting the Octavia only has a mild-hybrid system as opposed to the full-on hybrids found in the Camry and the Accord. The Octavia was previously a petrol-exclusive model, with most examples fitted with a 1.4-litre petrol engine. The petrol Octavia starts from $39,590, before on-road costs, so the hybrid represents a slight bump in price in comparison. The hybrid Octavia has the same power output as its petrol counterpart, producing 110kW and 250Nm. On the inside, there is a 13.0-inch central touchscreen and 10-inch digital driver display, with satellite navigation also standard. For an extra $6500, buyers can have 18-inch wheels, leather interior trim as well as power-adjustable front seats, with memory, message, and ventilating functionality. You also get a head-up display and LED headlights, among other things as part of the deal. The Octavia is the latest Skoda model to be given hybrid power, with other models in the lineup also offering plug-in hybrid variants. As part of the Octavia hybrid announcement, the brand unveiled a plug-in variant of the Superb sedan. The Octavia is part of a shrinking number of Skoda models, which do not have a plug-in hybrid option, meaning it could be on the horizon soon. While there is no plug-in hybrid variant currently on sale globally, it is something the brand would consider for Australia.  The Octavia hybrid will arrive in Australia next month. 2026 Skoda Octavia hybrid pricing Australia   2026 Skoda Octavia hybrid engine and efficiency 2026 Skoda Octavia hybrid standard features Other standard features include: Leather-wrapped steering wheel Keyless entry and start Satellite navigation Dual-zone climate control Heated seats Electric tailgate 2026 Skoda Octavia hybrid safety The combustion range of the Skoda Octavia received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, but this does not include the hybrid.   Standard safety features include: Eight airbags Adaptive cruise control Front cross-traffic assist Front and rear parking sensors Lane keep assist Traffic sign recognition Rear cross-traffic alert 2026 Skoda Octavia hybrid warranty and servicing All new Skoda models are covered with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.