News

In 2009, way back in the dim, distant first decade of this century, ‘Kevin ‘07’ was a couple of years into his tumultuous prime ministership, England regained the Ashes and Toyota was boring.Despite leading the market with - you guessed it - a 20 per cent share, dealer showrooms were filled with what now looks like a classic bunch of whitegoods on wheels.A bland Corolla, timid Yaris and by-the-numbers Camry. The ageing Tarago was still on offer and the LandCruiser 200 Series wasn’t exactly pushing the envelope, while the 70 Series soldiered on in a retro-technical time warp. Not a Celica, Supra or MR2 in sight.The dangerously adventurous could opt for a RAV4, Prius or even an Aurion Sportivo… naughty! But the Avensis Verso brought the brand crashing back down to earth. Has there ever been a more vanilla car?However, 2009 was also the year Akio Toyoda, grandson of the man who founded what is now Toyota Motor Corporation, rose to lead the Japanese giant; then as now, the world’s largest carmaker.Having been in the company since the mid-’80s and on the board from 2000 the new CEO and President came to the top job with some big ideas in mind.While some see him as a poseur with ‘Master Driver’ on his business card and a motorsport pseudonym on his crash helmet, I think his ascension was a huge moment in time, not just for Toyota, but the global car business. Here’s why. First and foremost he’s an enthusiast, not just a number-crunching business proprietor. Like the giants of Detroit’s golden era - Lee Iacocca, John DeLorean and Bob Lutz - Toyoda-san is a ‘car guy’. One who’d been working the angles behind the scenes as TMC’s Executive Vice President since 2005. And he hit the ground running.A key supporter of the FJ Cruiser, which managed to wrap heritage and modernity into a super-fun package with (cost-saving) Prado underpinnings, he was also a fan of the Rukus.  Arriving in 2010, the squared-off wagon wasn’t a screaming success here (or elsewhere, for that matter) but it was an infinitely bolder, more interesting car designed to be customisable for goodness sake.  And soon enough it was followed by the pure and simple 86 (made viable via co-production with Subaru) and a new Supra (a JV with BMW).Exciting Toyotas were back, with the rest of the brand’s line-up basking in the new found excitement.Like all good strategic objectives, Akio’s ‘Making ever-better cars’ mantra is simple on the surface but brilliantly flexible in practice.On a purely operation level it’s led to the development of the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that, since its arrival in 2015, has delivered not only cost savings and improved manufacturing efficiencies but dynamic, more engaging products.Have you driven a TNGA Camry lately? It’s really, really good.His long-term position on hybrid propulsion has proved to be another winner, with Akio expanding the concept out from the Prius program to underpin Toyota’s broader powertrain philosophy, standing his ground while other global carmakers made furious all-in bets on pure-electric tech.That continuing success with hybrid has laid down a marker for other brands, including the latest crop of Chinese challengers, to follow.Then there’s the off-beat Gazoo Racing, GR for short, with an occasional hardcore extension to GRMN (Gazoo Racing Masters of Nurburgring).BMW DNA aside, the GR Supra was a mark of ongoing intent with the rip-snorting GR Yaris and GR Corolla (the latter with a GRMN version reportedly in the offing) and of course the just-landed GR GT following. The MR2 and possibly Celica are set for a comeback any tick of the clock (and stand by for the uber-cool LandCruiser FJ).Even though he was no doubt part of the decision to select reverse on F1 (in 2009) Akio saw sports endurance racing as a better bet for hybrid development and promotion with five Le Mans victories and four World Manufacturers Championship titles in the last decade vindicating the move.Even though he stepped down as Toyota CEO in early 2023, his ongoing role as Chairman has allowed Akio to continue making a mark on the company’s brand direction and personality.Ongoing development of hydrogen, in fuel-cell and internal-combustion form, is part of Toyota’s ‘multi-pathway’ program also covering internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and battery-electric vehicle development.In short, Akio Toyoda is an automotive superhero that’s had the courage to take a multi-faceted giant to new heights thanks largely to a focus on products that are not only reliable, well-made and cheap to service but daring, innovative and fun to drive. More power to him! 

Can any brand knock Toyota off its throne?

Feel like there’s suddenly a whole lot of new car brands with logos you don’t even recognise.

Audi has revealed its next electric SUV, dubbed the E7X, but it’s not Audi as we know it.Instead, the E7X comes from the German luxury brand’s tie-up with MG owner SAIC in China.Styled AUDI, models from this joint venture dump the four-ring logo in favour of typeface only. The E7X is its second model after the E5 Sportback which hit the Chinese market earlier in 2025.What sets the AUDI models apart from their four-ringed counterparts is their use of SAIC platforms. For example the E5 and E7X share their underpinnings with models from the Chinese brand’s IM arm, which are sold in Australia badged as MGs.At over five-meters long, the E7X is even larger than the German brand’s Q8 e-tron, and it features an over-three-meter long wheelbase, suggesting generous interior dimensions. Two versions have been announced, a rear-wheel drive version which produces 300kW/500Nm and an all-wheel drive version which adds a 200kW motor on the front axle, and produces a total torque of 800Nm. Its battery capacity and driving range are yet to be revealed.Like other Chinese domestic market models, the E7X features a detailed LED light feature in the front, an illuminated logo, and similar light detailing for its rear lights. It offers enormous wheels in either 21- or 22-inch sizes, as well as trendy flush doorhandles, and a LiDAR pod on its roof. Interior images are yet to be revealed, although the car will likely follow in the footsteps of the E5 before it and look unrecognisable from Audi’s international range.The E5, for example, features a dash-spanning array of screens with Chinese-market specific software, a minimalist centre console and stripped-back steering wheel design. Like the E5, the E7X also features the option to have camera-based wing mirrors, which expand on the already massive screen real-estate on the interior.The Audi E7X is set to be fully revealed at the Beijing Motor Show in April and will go on sale in China shortly afterward.Audi’s SAIC joint-venture is regarded as a success in China, with the E5 amassing over 10,000 pre-orders as soon as it went on sale.While the E5 may remain a Chinese domestic market option, the E7X nameplate has been registered in Europe, suggesting Audi is considering overseas markets for the JV models.This comes with the backdrop of Audi’s Volkswagen parent company lobbying the European Union to relax tariff structures so it can bring Chinese-built models to Europe.The EU introduced tariffs in 2024 in order to protect domestic automakers from a torrent of lower-cost Chinese vehicles which it claimed at the time were unfairly subsidised by the Chinese government.According to industry source, Automotive News, VW Group is hoping the EU will grant it an exemption from what is currently a 20.7 per cent tariff.Volkswagen, which has been active in joint ventures in China for longer than most global car companies, gambled on new global models in China prior to the EU’s tariffs being introduced.For example, the Cupra Tavascan (which is built in a joint-venture with JAC and rides on the same MEB platform as the ID.4) is built in Anhui province with the original plan to sell it in Europe and abroad.If VW Group can secure an exemption to these rules, it opens up the opportunity for it to export more Chinese-built models, like the E7X and the upcoming large three-row Volkswagen based on the ID. Era concept which was revealed earlier in 2025.

BYD's hot hatch updated - but when will we see it in Oz?

BYD appears to have subtly confirmed the tough-looking TI 7 large SUV will debut in Australia, with the dots now connecting on comments the brand’s Australian boss recently made to CarsGuide.

Hybrids surge in popularity in Australia.

Genesis wants to build a better Porsche 911. Or, at least, its own 911.

Europe's latest family hybrid has arrived.

Chery’s Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris said there were many more Chery models to come.