Car News

Mitsubishi has revealed competitive pricing for its rough and ready version of the Triton ute.The 2026 Mitsubishi Triton Raider will be in dealerships in June priced from $74,990, which is both the recommended retail price and drive-away figure.The Raider is a co-development between Mitsubishi Australia and Australian engineering and manufacturing firm, Premcar, which also helps produce the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior.The Raider is based on the current range-topping Triton GSR grade, which retails for $65,590 before on-road costs.While it’s not quite a Ranger Raptor rival, the Raider is more of a direct competitor to off-road focused ute grades like the Isuzu D-Max Blade and Ford Ranger Tremor, as well as two upcoming pick-ups, the new Volkswagen Amarok W600 and next-gen Navara Pro-4X Warrior.When it comes to pricing the Triton undercuts the Ranger Tremor ($75,090 BOC) and the D-Max Blade ($80,900 BOC). Pricing for the other two models is yet to be revealed.As reported, the Triton Raider gains a specially developed front and rear suspension damper package for better wheel control, and it comes with Bridgestone AT002 all-terrain tyres, gripping a heavy-duty ROH ‘Assault’ 18-inch alloy wheel.Ride height has increased by 25mm at the front while the rear is up by 15mm. The front and rear tracks have also increased by 20mm.Other physical and visual changes include an upgraded side protection bars and sports bar with red inserts and stronger underbody protection.The powertrain has not been upgraded so it continues to use the Triton’s 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine offering outputs of 150kW/470Nm.Colour choices include ‘White Diamond’, ‘Black Mica’, ‘Blade Silver’ and ‘Graphite Grey’.Inside the Raider comes with everything from the GSR, including black leather seats with orange stitching, but it adds ‘Raider’ branded head rests and badging in the console.Keep an eye on our Mitsubishi Triton Raider launch review in the coming weeks.

A new rapid hybrid variant of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has just been revealed as part of two new sleek limited edition models for the large sedan in Australia.The Mercedes-AMG E53 Dark Carbon will start from $206,900 (before on-road costs), shooting it up to the top of the E-Class range Down Under. It features several blacked out elements, including 21-inch alloy wheels, mirror housings, badging and grille. There is also a suite of carbon fibre, including in the centre console and other trim areas. It gets the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and plug-in hybrid set-up, which produces 450kW and 750Nm, as on the standard E53. Along with an all-wheel drive system, it an accelerate from 0-100km/h in under four seconds. This is 300kW and 430Nm more than the base E-Class. This car lines up as a rival to the V8-powered plug-in hybrid BMW M5, which starts from over $50,000 more (before on-road costs), but boasts 535kW and 1000Nm. Mercedes-Benz also unveiled another limited edition model as part of its announcement called the E300 AMG Night, priced from $129,400 (before on-road costs). It is roughly $3000 cheaper than the standard E300, but a more than $10,000 bump on the base E200. It features dark and blacked-out elements on the exterior and has 21-inch wheels made from a light-alloy material, which are finished in a black paint. This edition is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and mild hybrid set-up, producing 190kW and 400Nm, as in the standard E300. Along with the 14.4-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch passenger display, there is an 'Edition' badge exclusive to this model. It will continue to rival the BMW 5-Series, which is priced from $116,900, with prices rising up to $136,900 (before on-road costs).Both new E-Class variants have just entered into Aussie showrooms. 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class pricing Australia 

News continues to filter in about the incoming Mitsubishi Pajero, including the axing of an iconic body style and the off-road icons the brand will be targeting with its potentially make-or-break 4WD.The latest news comes from Japan, where Best Car reports the iconic short-wheelbase Pajero will not feature in this new generation, marking the first time a Pajero generation hasn't offered a 'shorty' at some point in its lifespan.Now something of a collector's item, the three-door Pajero (which was removed from sale in Australia in 2011) would likely look out of place today, where it would be a more luxurious answer to something like a Suzuki Jimny.Instead, the Pajero will reportedly be full-size, five-door only – in fact, it will be the biggest in its history – with its length expected to exceed five metres.Expected to be Triton-based, and to use the Mitsubishi ute's powertrain, the Pajero will be bringing 150kW of power and 470Nm of torque to the off-road party. It should also match the ute's 3500kg braked towing capacity, and off-road capability and on-road comfort are clearly a focus.In fact, Japanese media has already spotted a camouflaged Pajero alongside a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, presumably for benchmarking purposes, suggesting Mitsubishi has the king in its sights.Legacy is a point not lost on Mitsubishi, which says any new model has to live up to the badge's heritage.“For me, the Pajero is an object of admiration,” Mitsubishi's president, Keisuke Kishiura Kishiura has told Automotive News.“Thanks to its off-road capability, allowing it to tackle any weather or road surface with confidence, its reliability, which withstands even the harshest conditions, and its ride quality and comfort that minimise fatigue on long drives, the Pajero has been cherished by customers around the world.”The Mitsubishi Pajero is expected to launch in late 2026.

A game-changing ute from Toyota might be back on the cards, according to the latest reports out of the United States. The ute rumoured to be in the works is based on the best-selling RAV4 small SUV, putting it up against the hugely popular Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz in the US. This new ute has been considered by Toyota for some time now, with several senior executives hinting at its development. A lifestyle concept ute was unveiled from the brand in 2023, which was said to be hybrid-powered. The most recent news indicated it remains a while away from entering production, with the brand waiting for the right moment to strike in the segment. Timing has been a key theme from executive comments on the ute, with other global factors such as trade deals and tariffs also impacting its viability. It now appears the right time might be approaching, as Toyota’s North American Chief Executive Officer Tetsuo Ogawa provided more details on the ute. This included the RAV4 forming the basis for it. “But for the compact truck? Definitely, we have such demand,” Ogawa said in an interview with Auto News. “A RAV4-based pickup is an opportunity for us, and the dealers are waiting. “Maybe they say we need today or tomorrow, but it takes time.”This latest update confirms the ute is on the radar and even potentially in development, but it looks to still be several years away from becoming official. It also confirms the ute would be built on the RAV4’s monocoque chassis, differing from other Toyota utes such as the HiLux built on a ladder frame. It remains too far away to ponder an Australian future for it. Expect it to be primarily built in left-hand drive given North America is the target market at this stage.

Subaru just got serious about its EV game in Australia, with pricing for its new Uncharted small SUV released. It will start from $59,990, making it $2000 cheaper than its mid-size Solterra electric sibling. The Uncharted will take on popular, but cheaper rivals in the segment such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia EV3. The Uncharted comes as standard with an all-wheel drive system as opposed to the front-wheel drive exclusive Kona and EV3. The 211mm of ground clearance on the Subaru aids the car’s all-terrain capabilities further. Its dual electric motor set-up produces 252kW to offer a sharp 0-100km/h time of five seconds. It is equipped with a 75kWh battery and a total driving range of 522km, according to WLTP standards. It takes roughly half-an-hour to charge from 10-80 per cent at DC speeds. It also supports vehicle-to-load, allowing for external appliances to be powered through the car’s battery.The car’s interior boasts a 14.0-inch central touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital driver display, along with dual wireless phone chargers. The Uncharted is the latest in a sustained EV push from Subaru with the Trailseeker large SUV also on sale.  More EVs will help the brand fight off potential fines, following the first performance period of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), where Subaru incurred the third-most penalties of any brand. Pre-orders on the Uncharted are now open, ahead of its official launch in the coming weeks, with customer deliveries beginning in July. 2027 Subaru Uncharted pricing Australia 2027 Subaru Uncharted motor and efficiency  2027 Subaru Uncharted standard features Other standard features include: Power adjustable front seatsMemory driver seatHeated front and rear outboard seatsReclining rear seatsHeated steering wheelDigital rearview mirrorPowered tailgateOptions packages 2027 Subaru Uncharted safetyThe Subaru Uncharted does not have an ANCAP rating yet, with testing and results still in progress. Standard safety features: Front and rear parking sensorsBlind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertAdaptive high beamSafe exit assist360-degree camera2027 Subaru Uncharted warranty and servicingThe Subaru Uncharted is covered with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. There is an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty for the high-voltage battery.There is five-year capped price servicing available on the car, with intervals every 15,000km or 12 months. 

Audi wants to have it both ways. The German brand is planning to expand its new Q3 range with both a flagship, high-performance RSQ3 and a more frugal, budget-helping plug-in hybrid.Speaking at the launch of the new Q3 range, which is rolling out with 110kW, 150kW and 195kW variants initially, Audi Australia management have made it clear that more options are on the way.Officially Audi hasn’t confirmed plans for an RSQ3, but Matthew Dale, National Product Manager for Audi Australia, leaves no uncertainty what the local position would be when plans are announced.“ We'd love one tomorrow,” he told CarsGuide. “Definitely put our hand up for one.”While Audi is almost-certain to revive the RS badge for this latest generation Q3, exactly what form that takes remains to be seen. The previous generation was powered by the brand’s iconic five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, but Europe’s strict emissions laws have put its future in doubt. That means Audi is likely having to develop a new powertrain for the RSQ3, which will need to balance performance with efficiency and emissions requirements both in Europe and around the world.Given the RS model accounted for up to 15 per cent of total Q3 sales in Australia with the previous generation, the local demand is expected to be high - five-cylinder engine or not. So the most likely scenario is Audi Australia is simply waiting for head office to confirm its existence and timeline before committing publicly.On the flip side, the finishing touches are being made to the arrival of the all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Q3. Its omission was obvious, as the new Q3 launches at a time of sky-high petrol prices and an increased demand for electric vehicles.Officially the Q3 PHEV is under ‘evaluation’ but all signs point to its arrival in the not-too-distant future.“ The main reason for that is, obviously, the latest generation Q3 we locked in all of our ICE models,” Dale said. “We just want to make sure that, one, the product that's available in Europe is fit for the Australian market and Australian consumer. Two, it's been tested for Australian conditions as well. And three, it’s the latest generation of the product. So it's close to getting to the end of its evaluation and getting a decision, but we just want to make sure that all three of those areas are ticked prior to bringing a product to market.”Asked if he foresees any of these issues holding the PHEV back, Dale was confident the latest model, which reportedly boasts up to 100km of EV-only driving range, will be a good fit for Audi Australia. “No, the big thing is that space is moving so, so quickly with, say, battery technology,” he explained. “Not necessarily the hardware components of the actual PHEV itself, but with battery technology, it's moving so, so fast, and that's something that we've obviously shown in, say, A5 and Q5, is the latest generation products. We've moved from having, say, 30-40km range in a battery pack that is essentially the same size as today, up to closer to 80km of pure EV range. And that shows that, we're using the same hardware size, but the hardware inside and the software has been increased exponentially over that period of time to offer the latest products to Australian consumers, and I think that's where we're looking into to ensure that if we position a vehicle in the market, that we're bringing the latest product to Australia.”The addition of a Q3 PHEV would help expand the appeal of the popular small SUV to people looking to save money at the petrol pump. The recent surge in fuel prices has seen interest in EVs dramatically increase, which is good news for Audi, as it was one of the first luxury brands to make a major commitment to EVs.“ Definitely ,” Dale said. “We've seen, even through our dealer network and our partners that invest in our Audi dealerships, they're basically saying that just inquiry on electric vehicles alone has been astronomical and it's doing quite well. Hopefully we continue that momentum. But yeah, you can see based on, consumables like fuel prices and things like that, where the consumer pivots to alternative solutions and with our broad portfolio of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles as well, even mild hybrid pluses and mild hybrids that we've got in this car as well, there's quite a broad range of products where consumers can pivot and have broader options.”

Renault's Master van will be more expensive, with its next-generation carrier priced in Australia.The base manual diesel variant starts from $55,990, before on-road costs, which is nearly $800 more expensive than the outgoing base automatic van. Subtle price rises continue up the range, but the biggest increase is for the high roof Master which now costs $5000 more, although this brings an upgrade to an automatic transmission from a manual.It is now powered by 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine, replacing a less efficient 2.3-litre unit.It will continue to battle with the Fiat Scudo and Ford Transit Custom among others in a busy van segment.The EV range kicks off from $77,990, before on-road costs, for the medium wheelbase, with the long wheelbase requiring an extra $2000. It will tackle the Farizon SV, Kia PV5 and VW ID.Buzz Cargo. The electric Master is more expensive than all of those rivals, with a similar price to electric variants of the Transit Custom. By comparison, though, the Master is a step up in size on the Transit Custom. The electric Master is powered by a single electric motor producing 105kW and 300Nm, which are lesser numbers than its rivals. The van is equipped with an 87kWh battery, offering an all-electric driving range of 409km, according to WLTP standards. Its payload and towing capacities are substantially less than Master diesel variants. The van has picked up some practical improvements, including a larger digital driver display.There is now more space in the centre console, with the gear selector being moved to a wand on the steering wheel.  The new-generation Renault Master diesel will arrive in showrooms next month, with EV variants joining in the second half of this year. 2026 Renault Master pricing Australia 2026 Renault Master engine and efficiency 2026 Renault Master standard features10-inch central touchscreenWired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAnalogue instrument cluster3.5-inch digital driver displayTwo USB-C charging portsAutomatic headlightsRain-sensing wipersOptions packages Other options include: Digital rearview mirror ($1300)Metallic and premium paint ($900)Front and side parking sensors ($500)Wooden flooring in cargo area to mid-height ($900-$1000)Wooden flooring in cargo area to full-height ($1990-2100)Sliding right door ($800)Sliding left door with window ($300)Left and right sliding doors with windows ($1300)2026 Renault Master safetyStandard safety features include: Auto emergency brakingBlind spot monitoringLane keep assistSpeed-sign recognitionRearview cameraRear parking sensors 2026 Renault Master dimensions 2026 Renault Master warranty and servicingThe Renault Master comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Recommended service interval is 12 months/30,000km.

The car landscape has dramatically changed in the past 10 years, with new brands entering the fray and dynamic market conditions shifting buyer wants.Data from 2016 shows how different the cars were captivating the attention of Aussies only a decade ago.The Toyota HiLux led the way, and the Ford Ranger was not far behind, but there was a theme of hatchbacks dominating the other top places. The Toyota Corolla took out second place, while the Hyundai i30 was in third and the Mazda3 sat in fifth. Toyota continued to feature down the list with the Camry sedan, followed by the Australian built Holden Commodore. Further down list, the SUV revolution can be seen to take shape in Australia, starting with the Mazda CX-5. After the Mitsubishi Triton ute in ninth place, there were three SUVs in the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-3.The best-selling brands in 2016 has changed a lot compared to today. Toyota is still parked up at the top of the charts, but several big names have now been replaced by Chinese carmakers.Mazda and Hyundai occupied second and third, while Holden secured fourth. The Japanese duo of Mitsubishi and Nissan followed next, with Volkswagen being the only European brand in the top 10 after that. Subaru came ninth in the standings, with Kia finishing in 10th, highlighting the brand’s rapid development in Australia. Top selling cars 2016 Top selling brands 2016 In 2021, there were clear changes to the market, but also some consistent themes.The HiLux and Ranger duopoly was in full swing at the top of the standings, with Toyota’s ute still edging Ford’s.Third position showed SUVs were taking over as the RAV4 picked up a huge chunk of sales.There were still examples of a past market, with the i30 and the Toyota Corolla hatches sandwiching the D-Max ute.Further down, SUVs increase their presence further, with the Mazda CX-5, Toyota Prado and MG ZS all making up the top 10, along with the Triton ute. Pure internal combustion power remained a dominant player, with best-sellers such as the RAV4 and Corolla still yet to make its full hybrid transition. Top selling cars 2021 Toyota was still on top as a brand in Australia, while Mazda and Hyundai continued their holding in the top three. Ford was hot on the heels of Hyundai, followed by Kia which had surged up the sales charts in five years to claim a spot in the top five. Mitsubishi and Nissan still occupied high places in the standings as did Volkswagen. The big shift was the appearance of the only Chinese brand in the top 10, in MG. This foreshadowed what we see today where BYD is fast approaching a potential top-two finish in Australia.Subaru picked up a 10th place finish. Top selling brands 2021 Fast forward to 2026, and only three top 10 sellers from 2016 remain. The Ranger and HiLux continue their battle at the top of the standings, but they are in decline.Some unfamiliar names a few years ago are emerging as top choices for Aussie motorists.The Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV has emerged as the best-selling SUV in 2026 to date.Hyundai's Kona is next on the list followed by the D-Max Ute.Mitsubishi's Outlander large SUV is sitting sixth, while the long-awaited launch of the new Toyota RAV4 has resulted in a burst of sales for the popular family car.The Mazda CX-5 remains a regular feature at the top of the sales charts, with GWM's Haval Jolion sitting in ninth currently.Rounding out the top 10 is Ford Everest.This data only represents the first four months of the year, but it does show the general trends of where the market is headed.Top selling cars 2026 (up to April)Top selling brands 2026 (up to April)There are no surprises in the top four best-selling brands so far, with Toyota out in front, followed by Mazda, Kia and Ford.A monster month from BYD has pushed the Chinese giant brand into fifth, overtaking Hyundai. This is despite the brand not having a single car in the top 10 best sellers.The final four highlight the success of Chinese brands in Australia as GWM, Chery and MG are all present, along with Mitsubishi.Former mainstays Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen are gone, and Holden has closed up shop completely.

Polestar global CEO Michael Lohscheller has shed fresh light on the upcoming new-generation Polestar 2, confirming launch timing, bodystyle and positioning within the Swedish EV maker’s line-up.Asked when the much-anticipated newcomer will hit showrooms, Lohscheller told CarsGuide, “The middle of 2027, which is super fast considering we just announced it.“We started in the first quarter of last year, right? So, that’s speed which is not common in the industry,” he said.And on the subject of the new 2’s body shape he added, “Look, obviously it will be a complete new car. “There will be new technology in there but why change a winning team because Polestar 2 was very, very successful.“For us, it’s the basis of our brand. I mean, it’s a bit like Golf was for VW back in the day.“We have more than 200,000 people driving Polestar 2 and we want to keep them. Therefore the (sedan) bodystyle will be similar,” he said.When it comes to positioning for the next-gen car, Lohscheller gives a thumbnail outline of the brand’s emerging line-up.“It depends on whether you look at size or price, but I would say the Polestar 7 is a compact SUV (also due in 2027) and the 2 is a larger sedan. Those to me are the two entries into the range price-wise.“Some prefer SUVs, some sedans but this is how you come in. Then we have the Polestar 4, which is a bit bigger, also a bit more expensive. Then you have the Polestar 3 and up to the Polestar 5. Our numbers don’t align. We are like Apple. “People ask me will you call (the new 2) the Polestar 8 and I say no, no way, it’s a 2,” he said.Lohscheller was also at pains to point out that although the company will always look for synergies within its Geely parent’s product portfolio, the new Polestar 2 will stand apart from Geely, Volvo or Zeekr models that may ultimately use its EV-specific platform.“It will be a very different car and the reason is we start obviously with the design here (in Sweden) and we put our Polestar DNA into the car.“There are things only Polestar will have - chassis tuning, some of the driving characteristics and that is ‘us’. We are not giving that away.“There are other areas where we will use things together, and it’s very beneficial that we have access to the best technology in the world.“But we will do Polestar, with Polestar DNA,” he said. And it’s worth noting Polestar Australia Managing Director Scott Maynard supports Mr Lohscheller’s position, previously telling CarsGuide, "The 2 will be a dynamic looking car, but it won't take on a full SUV platform. That gong goes to Polestar 7 which we see a bit later on."We'll get access to it as soon as the rest of the world does. So we'll be online when Europe is.“It just takes a little bit of time to get them here. So we're hopeful to see them on the ground in 2027," Maynard said.

Jaguar’s first car since the brand’s total reboot will be called Type 01, the British brand has confirmed ahead of the luxury GT’s debut at the Monaco E-Prix this weekend.Almost 18 months ago Jaguar declared it was wiping the slate clean and starting again with a completely new direction and models for what it called “the new era”.Since then we’ve seen a controversial ad campaign, a new Jaguar logo, design concepts of large swooping electric limousines, and a preview drive of its GT saloon prototype.It’s the GT saloon that will wear the Type 01 badge, which according to Jaguar: “references legendary predecessors, ‘0’ is for zero tailpipe emissions, ‘1’ for the first of a new generation”.The word 'Type' is a designation Jaguar has historically used on its vehicles and dates back to the 1951 Le Mans winning  C-Type racecar. Over the decades there’s also been the iconic E-Type and most recently the F-Type.“We have reimagined Jaguar for a new era, with inspiration from what has gone before,” said Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover “Our engineers have achieved this with a vehicle that looks and drives like no other electric car, yet reflects a unique provenance. The Type 01 name is part of that story – for me, the zero also signifies a complete brand reset, and the ‘1’, our first car for a new chapter, a ‘one of a kind!’” Jaguar said the Type 01 will make an appearance at the Monaco E-Prix on May 16, this weekend, albeit wrapped in a camouflage design.Earlier this year CarsGuide had the opportunity to meet and pilot the prototype of the Type 01. The imposing and sleak saloon meaures 5200mm long, just 1400mm tall and has a wheel base of 3200mm.We were told the prototype has a split battery that allows the cabin section to sit low while still retaining a large overall capacity of 120kWh for a range of up to 700km.Two motors at the front produce 706kW, while a smaller rear motor makes 260kW. Combined torque is 1300Nm.The Type 01 is expected to make its official and undisguised debut later this year.