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First there was the Toyota LandCruiser 300, now there’s the Geely Galaxy Cruiser 700 - a large off-road plug-in hybrid SUV from the Chinese giant that could monster its old school rivals with leading edge tech, comfort and all-out grunt - oh, and it has an amphibious mode, too.We saw the Galaxy Cruiser 700 (sometimes called the Battleship 700) in concept form in 2025 at the Shanghai motor show and now the hybrid LandCruiser rival has had its final design, which doesn't stray far from the previous concepts, revealed in new images.It will launch domestically this year and it could be on its way to Australia in 2027.Big, boxy and with more than a hint of Land Rover Defender about it, the Galaxy Cruiser 700’s dimensions are almost identical to the LandCruiser 300 at 4893mm long, 2028mm wide and 1957mm tall.The big difference is in the wheelbase with the The Galaxy Cruiser almost 100mm longer at 2930mm - how this affects the vehicle’s all important breakover angle is yet to be seen.The Galaxy Cruiser 700 does have an impressive 300mm of ground clearance, a wading depth of 800mm and an amphibious mode allowing it to float.A plug-in hybrid powertrain will produce a colossal combined 830kW and feature two motors on the rear axle and one on the front.The Galaxy Cruiser 700 is also likely to feature Geely’s latest self-driving tech allowing it to pilot itself autonomously on urban roads and motorways. CarsGuide has asked Geely Australia if the vehicle is being considered for a local launch and will update this story if more details come to light.If the large SUV does come to Australia, it will likely be sold as the Geely Cruiser 700. The Galaxy badge is only used in China to denote a separate sub-brand of Geely.Geely is currently experiencing a boom in popularity in Australia with its affordable electric and hybrid vehicles. The brand sold 2636 vehicles in May this year, an increase of 416 per cent on the same month last year. Year to date sales for the brand in Australia have already reached 6440 units, exceeding its total 2025 result of 5010 sales.Geely’s fully electric EX5 mid-sized SUV has been one of the brand’s hits with 1814 sales in May. It has become one of the top-selling electric cars in the country in 2026.The brand currently has only one other model on sale - the related Starray EM-i, a plug-in hybrid that’s selling well too, with 822 sales for May.A smaller EX2 hatchback to rival the BYD Atto 1 will arrive later this year.

A LandCruiser rival in the form of GWM Haval’s new flagship is a decent chance for an Australian launch as more information is rolled out for the 4X4 in China.The 2027 GWM Haval H10, which was revealed in part at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show, is set to have more details revealed this week but its potential for Australia is still up in the air.The large SUV, will have two plug-in hybrid options with either a 1.5- or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, could be a strong budget rival to the Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol, but GWM’s Australian arm has yet to confirm whether it’ll happen.Earlier this year, the word was that if the smaller Haval H9 doesn’t come to Australia, the H10 is a strong contender.It seems the H9 is unlikely as GWM Australia wants to maintain a strong identity for each of its sub-brands: Tank, Haval, Ora and Cannon (with Wey to come as a luxury brand).“If we don't bring in the H9, there's potential for bringing H10 in,” GWM Australia Public Relations Manager Justin Stefani said at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show.“The option is there… it’s just how we play the chessboard, right?”GWM Australia Marketing Manager Steve Maciver added the challenge is maintaining the brand identity for Haval and Tank when the H10 could be seen as similar to the large Tank 500 SUV.“That’s the bit that we have to work through,” Maciver admitted. “You know, we're developing a very, very clear master brand position in GWM with Wey sitting at the head of that. How those brands across Haval, Tank, Cannon, Ora and Wey play.”At this stage, the Haval H10 should offer an 800-volt battery architecture for fast charging, an electric driving range of around 180km (under China’s lenient CLTC testing), and in two- or three-row versions measuring 5138mm or 5299mm long respectively.

Fuel prices in Australia are about to rise again. The federal government has announced the Fuel Excise cut will continue at a lower rate until the start of August.The original 50 per cent discount equated to 32 cents per litre off fuel prices, but this was due to end on the 30th of June.The government will now extend a smaller discount of 16 cents per litre until the 2nd of August. This announcement means fuel prices will increase across the board in addition to any other fluctuations from external factors. A 16 cent increase will see diesel fuel prices increase back above the $2 per litre mark across the country, having been more than $3 per litre at times over the past few months. The diesel-powered Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes remain two of the best-selling cars in Australia.E10 petrol will also creep up towards the $2 point as a result of this decreased discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out further extensions to the Fuel Excise discount in the future if circumstances require it. "Of course we do live in a volatile world. Were there to be a massive global shock, my government will always respond,” Mr Albanese told Sky News. The news comes as rumours of an end to the Iran war heat up, with the conflict being the key driver of high fuel prices. There is still no freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - the key gateway for many ships carrying oil globally.It has seen electric vehicle uptake in Australia soar, with budget Chinese options like the Jaecoo J5 EV and Geely EX5 growing by more than 200 per cent between May and June 2026. Tesla experienced a record-breaking month in May, shifting 6433 units - its highest sales number since the Electric Vehicle Council started collecting data. The government will also increase the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to 16 cents per litre, with it being free since April. 

In the car world, Australians are often forced to wait towards the end of the queue. Mitsubishi has just changed that.The Japanese carmaker has locked in its rough-and-tumble new Pajero four-wheel drive for this year.Mitsubishi hasn’t even revealed the car yet, but the brand’s local arm has confirmed it will be in showrooms and on our roads before 2026 is in the rear-view mirror.This puts us firmly at the front of the line to grab one of the most hotly anticipated models of this year.Drivers in the US on the other hand will have to wait until 2030, according to the latest reports from US auto industry bible, Automotive News.In the US the Pajero is called the Montero, but it has been pushed to the back of the list to prioritise other vehicles.This Australia-first - or near first - mentality is a refreshing change for fans. In contrast, Nissan launched its new Y63 Patrol at the end of 2024 in the Middle East and US, but Australians are still waiting. Nissan said the Y63 Patrol will arrive locally towards the end of this year.This means Aussies could get their hands on a new Pajero before a Patrol.Australians waited years for a Toyota Corolla Cross, and there is no sign of the Ford Bronco 4WD despite the brand's boss Jim Farley leaving the door open to its arrival years ago.“We can do Bronco and Bronco Sport for the globe for sure,” he said to CarsGuide in 2022.“But we have, like, a year or two order bank so we have a lot of work to do on our capacity before we can even consider something like that.”There is still a lot left to know about the incoming Pajero, but we have spied it testing in Australia and some information has started to trickle in.The new Pajero has blocky proportions similar to the incoming Nissan Patrol. It is based on the Triton ute, so it has a rugged ladder frame ideal for off-roading. You can expect it to tow 3500kg.Odds on it will use the same 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine that powers the Triton and makes 150kW and 470Nm.Mitsubishi Australia’s GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel previously told CarsGuide the Pajero will be the brand's premium flagship.So expect a classy interior with the latest tech and premium finishes.Rumours out of Japan suggest the new Pajero will be available in at least three trim levels. A return of the Exceed grade is likely, which is a throwback to the previous-generation model that ceased production in 2021.Mitsubishi is also planning a range of Pajero models. There is no official word on what they might be yet, but speculation out of Japan points to a mini Pajero and possibly a shortened three-door version. Those models likely won't be seen in public until next decade.

One of the most well-known brands in the world could be on the verge of ditching petrol power for good. The iconic 6.7-litre V12 petrol engine has been a staple of Rolls Royce’s modern line-up, but the brand is prepared to shelve it forever if customers stop requesting it and regulations demand it.It currently features in the Ghost and Phantom sedans and Cullinan SUV, the latter being the most popular Rolls Royce model. But it’s the fully-electric set-up in the brand’s Spectre sedan that will define the future, according to Global Director of Sales and brand at Rolls-Royce Julian Jenkins.Despite proclaiming Rolls-Royce has the best V12 in the world, Jenkins said the Spectre is a sign of things to come. “In terms of our path to electrification we are very confident in terms of where we are,” Jenkins said.  “If you think about it, you would argue electric suits Rolls-Royce better than it does any other automotive brand. It’s effortless, it’s silent, it’s instant torque. “Spectre has very much shown that. Our second best-selling Rolls-Royce after Cullinan.“In terms of our goal. We have publicly stated our aspiration and direction into EV.”Rolls-Royce will launch its second fully-electric model called the Spectre II in Australia later this yearWhile Jenkins said customer demand remains the key driver for its product line-up, environmental government regulations are having an increased influence.He said Rolls-Royce will need to comply with these regulations and the brand is looking at them.Jenkins further said there is no chance of the brand ever exploring a hybrid or plug-in hybrid adaptation of the V12, with it being considered an unacceptable compromise. This mean electrification cannot save the iconic engine.Rolls-Royce’s Regional Director for the Asia Pacific Irene Nikkein said it has the ability to ditch petrol power if the time comes.“We have the technology. We have the capabilities to be 100 per cent electric,” Nikkein said. “From a capability, production, technology and engineering perspective, we are able to. “We must consider , and Australia is not the only market that has that perspective.”The European Union recently rolled back its 2035 internal combustion car ban for a more lenient emission reduction mandate, and the US has reversed its plans, too.These moves will likely keep engines like Rolls-Royce’s V12 alive well into the next decade, but it looks like the brand’s ultimate switch to EV may not be far away.

Mitsubishi has confirmed it will not build its own electric cars.Mitsubishi’s global Chief Executive Officer Takao Kato told shareholders the company will continue to source its EV products from its partners as opposed to designing new cars solely under its the Mitsubishi brand. Kato said growth of the EV market is slowing down across the world and while EV development down the line is not out of the question, it is not the cards at this stage.“Within the automotive industry, there had been talk of electrification for some time. However, over the past year or two, there has been a major reevaluation,” Kato said. “For a company of our size, deciding to make a massive investment in one area and then incurring significant losses would pose a major management problem.”Mitsubishi will continue sourcing its EVs from joint-venture projects such as with iPhone manufacturer Foxconn subsidiary Foxtron and carmaker Yulong.The partnership’s first model is on its way to Australia before the end of this year, and is expected to be a small SUV.Mitsubishi's Australian GM of Product Strategy and PR Bruce Hampel said the brand remains committed to bringing both EVs and more plug-in hybrids Down Under.“With the change to electrified options as well, that opens up a different path to having a step-up in performance level,” Hampel told CarsGuide recently.  “As we transition into HEVs, PHEVs, and ultimately BEVs and these types of vehicles, we could use electrification as the differentiator.”Most of Mitsubishi's current Australian line-up will fall foul of increasingly stringent emissions standards in the coming years, so electrified options are becoming more important for the brand.Mitsubishi plans to introduce 13 new models over the next five years, including five hybrid and five plug-in hybrid ones.The brand is not alone in shying away from building new EVs with several carmakers pushing back EV plans after posting substantial losses.Rival Japanese brand Honda announced it will reallocate resources from EVs towards a new hybrid strategy from 2027. This included ditching most of its ‘0 Series’ that was due to get underway this year. Ford also posted significant losses with its substantial EV asset devaluation a key driver of this downfall. 

Mercedes-Benz Australia has locked in the launch of the new CLA Shooting Brake wagon to complement the current sedan body style.This marks the first time the CLA Shooting Brake has hit Australian shores since it was discontinued in 2019, when the second-generation model arrived.A Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson has confirmed the new CLA Shooting Brake will launch locally before the end of 2026.It will also be offered with mild-hybrid petrol and electric powertrains that already feature in the CLA sedan, which just launched locally.At this stage local pricing and specifications for the CLA Shooting Brake are yet to be locked in.It’s expected the electric CLA Shooting Brake will be the most affordable electric wagon in Australia by a considerable margin once it arrives.This title currently goes to the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo at $204,100, before on-road costs, and is followed by the BMW i5 M60 Touring at $219,900, before on-road costs.The CLA sedan line-up currently starts at $66,500, before on-road costs, for the entry-level mild-hybrid petrol trim. The most affordable electric sedan trim is $84,300, before on-road costs.It’s expected the Shooting Brake wagon body style will be a little more expensive than the sedan.Mild-hybrid versions of the CLA are powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine with differing levels of power, depending on the trim level, plus a 22kW electric motor that’s powered by the 48V battery pack.Power is sent to either the front or all wheels, depending on the grade, by an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.The electric versions of the CLA has a variant with a single, rear-mounted electric motor, plus another with a dual-motor, all-wheel drive set-up.Mercedes-Benz Australia said it can’t disclose a projected sales split between the mild-hybrid petrol and electric CLA trims, however there have been more inquiries for the latter than expected.

Chinese brand Leapmotor says buttons are on the verge of an in-car comeback as China’s army of automotive manufacturers further tailor their vehicles for international tastes.That’s the word from Frederik Dallmeyer, Lead Exterior Designer at Leapmotor International, who says customer tastes are causing a rethink on featureless cabins in which all functions are controlled through a central screen.Leapmotor has already begun launching work-arounds, in which shortcuts take a driver straight to the most important functions, like changing the wing-mirror position, but says the next generation of vehicles could feature a return to toggles and switches."I can't be concrete about it. (But) if the tastes of the market dictate that buttons are a must-have, then yes, but let’s see,” he says.“My personal preference is that I like to also have quick access to things. So yeah, I think that’s something that will be worked on.”Asked when Leapmotor vehicles could return to easy-access functionality in its cabins, the designer replied: “I think it’s the next generation.”It has long been thought that the Chinese domestic market’s preference for screen-heavy interior would effectively strong-arm the rest of the world into adopting the same cabin layouts, given the size of China’s export market. The country is now the biggest country of origin for vehicles sold in Australia, with as many as one in three vehicles sold here made in China, depending on the month.But Mr Dallmeyer suggested that wasn’t necessarily the case, with the designer not ruling out individual cabin treatments for domestic and global markets, while also suggesting Chinese tastes could be changing.“I think that depends a little bit on how things were to evolve in China because China is always a very quickly evolving market,” he said.“Tastes change, preferences change. Maybe it’s not necessary, like if more physical functions are also appreciated in that market.”

An affordable 4WD has been given some special edition flair in Australia. Suzuki has confirmed the Jimny Rhino will launch Down Under as a special version of the XL five-door small off-roader.It will start from $44,990 (before on-road costs), which makes it $4000 more than the current range-topping five-door variant. The news comes after the brand opened an expressions of interest portal for the car last month.The Jimny Rhino features “Kinetic Yellow” exterior paint work, which is usually a $1345 option for the three-door variants of the car.The exterior look features painted black and grey stripes along the sides with an image of a rhino on the front doors.The roof is painted in a shiny black colour, giving a two-tone effect. The Jimny Rhino rides on 15-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, with a different design to other Jimny models. Satin silver panels and air vent surrounds continue the new design elements inside the cabin. There are black leather-wrapped door handles with yellow stitching and a ‘Rhino' logo.Customisable interior footwell lighting has eight different colours, including Kinetic Yellow.The Jimny Rhino further receives an upgraded premium Pioneer sound system.The car also comes with a range of accessories, such as a large portable speaker and metal presentation box for the key. It will continue to be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 75kW and 130Nm. The Jimny Rhino will be available with a manual and automatic transmissions like the rest of the Jimny range. The Jimny is Suzuki’s best-selling model in Australia, offering a cheap and compact off-roading alternative to the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.It lines up as a rival to the also budget-oriented GWM Tank 300, starting from $47,990 (drive-away). Suzuki’s Aussie special edition Jimny mirrors the brand's other global markets in introducing Rhino versions of its models. Order books for the Jimny Rhino are now open, with deliveries beginning on the 1st of July.  

A new front in the ongoing ute wars has opened, with fresh reporting that Toyota and BYD will soon have plug-in hybrid ute options sitting beneath the HiLux and Shark 6.The monocoque, or car-based, ute offerings are taking shape in South America, where manufacturers clearly keen to expand beyond the saturated dual-cab market are plotting their next move.That begins with the Mako, expected to be called the BYD Shark 5 in international markets, which will reportedly nab a different plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Shark 6 older brother.In Brazil, the Mako is a plug-in hybrid producing an expected 175kW, and promising a circa-100km EV-only driving range, along with a choice of two- or all-wheel drive.But the Mako is the ocean's fastest shark, and it seems global markets will be sticking true to the name, upping the power to more like 200kW. The powertrain in question will reportedly be borrowed from the Sealion 6 SUV, pairing a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor. Unconfirmed reports of Toyota's smaller ute offering are now emerging from the same region. The ute, based on the Corolla Cross and currently codenamed Project 150D, will reportedly score its own plug-in hybrid system.In huge news for the brand, reports out of Brazil point to the 150D adopting the powertrain from the Toyota Prius, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors.Total system output would be around 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.According to reports, the smaller Toyota ute will launch in South America in the first half of 2027, while the BYD Mako is expected to launch in the final quarter of 2026, giving the Chinese brand a headstart from a global sales perspective.Australian launch timing is at this point unclear, but both Toyota and BYD have said the door is open to ute models below the Shark 6 and HiLux, so watch this space.