Off road

Pricing for the incoming BYD Shark 6 cab-chassis ute has been revealed on the website RedBook.It will start from $55,900, before on-road costs, which is $2000 cheaper than the pick-up version of the popular ute already in Australia. BYD Australia when contacted for comment said that the company was not in a position to share an official launch date for the new variant. The cab-chassis Shark 6 does not have a direct rival in Australia with the Ford Ranger PHEV being a pick-up-exclusive variant. GWM is preparing a budget PHEV ute in China, which has good prospects for an Australian launch some time this year, but it looks like that will be a pick-up-only variant as well. BYD’s newest ute Down Under was first revealed in late November when it appeared in Department of Infrastructure filings confirming sale approval. These latest details reveal the car will miss out on some of the Shark 6 pick-up’s gear, such as a head-up display along with heated and ventilated front seats.It will still have a digital driver display and central touchscreen display, but the leather-wrapped steering wheel has been replaced by a synthetic one. It can also now be confirmed that the ute will have the same power set-up as found on the pick-up variant. A 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motors, producing 321kW and 650Nm. The ute has a 29.6kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, with an electric-only driving range of 100km, according to generous NEDC testing.The cab-chassis increases the payload to 900kg, but capacity will decrease with any tub or trailer installed. braked towing capacity remains at 2500kg.This news comes as BYD prepares to update the pick-up variant of the ute later in 2026. It is expected to be fitted with front and rear differential locks and a two-speed transfer-case, which would likely come with a price bump. 

Could the Shark 6 be about to take a bigger chunk out of the dual-cab market?The brand has come as close as it ever has to admitting there’s a driveline upgrade in the works for the Shark 6 dual-cab that would make the vehicle a more serious off-road contender.That would make it more attractive to recreational four-wheel-drive users as well as open up new fleet possibilities.BYD Australia’s Chief Operation Office Stephen Collins told Carsguide that "some improvements" to the Shark 6 were in the works.“I can’t tell you the specifics,” he said, but confirmed the changes would probably come sometime “…later in the year”.Mr Collins called the changes an "upgrade" leading to speculation the Shark 6 might grow front and rear differential locks and a two-speed transfer-case, which would vastly improve its off-road performance, the factor that is seen as the Shark 6’s weakest link right now.Chief Product Officer for BYD Australia Sajid Hasan backed up that theory, explaining that the Shark 6’s existing architecture had already been engineered for greater off-road ability.“It’s a possibility, because it’s (the Shark 6) based on a platform that already uses low-range (in the transfer-case (which the current Shark 6 sold here does not) and diff locks. So it’s mechanically possible,” he told Carsguide.The Shark 6 has been a runaway success for BYD, selling 1108 units in January this year, and helping BYD in the chase for its long-term goal of being a top-five brand in Australia.“At the end of 20204, we were 16th, and at the end of 2025, we were eighth. We just want to keep improving,” Mr Collin said. “The next phase is to get into the top five and that’s a priority.”Part of that process will be a push into the fleet market which BYD had, until now, not fully exploited, Mr Collins said.“One of the key opportunities (for BYD) is fleets,” he said. “It’s a stable market and customers want fit for purpose vehicles, and are interested in the whole of life cost.”“For us, so far, this has only been 10 per cent of our volume, but we see this as a really important part of our business going forward.”“We’re not in the top 20 fleet brands (in Australia) yet. But we’re working hard to improve that performance.”

Mitsubishi’s new Toyota Prado rival is getting closer to its reveal.In the meantime Japanese publication Best Car Web has shown off new digital renders of what the forthcoming 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero will look like in production guise.They show a blocky and bluff large SUV, which appears to be off-road-capable and also draws some inspiration from the latest Nissan Patrol Y63, especially at the rear.At the front there is a large grille with headlights that cascade down the fascia, plus the bonnet has bulges helping to indicate its toughness.Around the side it’s fairly slab-sided, with one design flourish being the character lines on the C-pillar.The rear is virtually vertical and features tail-lights that have a similar design motif to the headlights. Notably the renders don’t show a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, indicating that Mitsubishi isn’t planning on offering this.While Best Car Web has published these new digital renders of the Pajero, a camouflaged prototype has already been spied numerous times on Australian roads.Mitsubishi has also included a camouflaged prototype in an official teaser video, confirming the new “cross-country” SUV will be revealed this year.As previously reported, it’s understood this new SUV will be called just the Pajero, dropping the Sport suffix altogether.This could see the iconic and original Pajero nameplate being revived for the first time since it was retired in 2021.There is still a lot of speculation surrounding what this new SUV is based on. The Pajero has historically been its own vehicle, however the Pajero Sport (formerly known as the Challenger) has always been based on the Triton ute.Previous reports have stipulated the new Pajero will be based on the current Triton ute, which launched locally in 2024. This means a body-on-frame is likely.Historically, the Pajero was built on a ladder-frame chassis, but later versions from the 2000s onward were built on a monocoque platform, like the current Land Rover Defender.If this new-generation Pajero is based on the Triton, this likely means it will share a version of its 2.4-litre bi-turbo-diesel engine. It produces 150kW and 470Nm in the Australian-specification Triton.It’ll likely also receive Mitsubishi’s latest version of its Super-Select four-wheel drive system which allows for full-time four-wheel drive on sealed surfaces.Locally the Triton is only offered with a six-speed automatic transmission, however the outgoing Pajero Sport was offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s unclear if Mitsubishi will offer this new-generation Pajero with a similar eight-speed automatic transmission.This new Mitsubishi large SUV can’t come soon enough as the Japanese carmaker axed a considerable portion of its line-up, including the Pajero Sport, earlier this year due to them not meeting new Australian Design Rule (ADR) standards which stipulated specific requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.As a result Mitsubishi’s largest SUV is currently the mid-sized Outlander, which is also its best-seller by far. Certain trims can be had in seven-seat form.

Toyota’s 70 Series LandCruisers are much loved for many reasons and one of those is the fact they don’t change much. Sure, it now has LED headlights and a new multimedia system, but otherwise not a lot has been altered. It's not pretty and it offers few concessions to occupant comfort or safety. But the 70 stands out as being unapologetically what it is: a boxy truck-like live-axle 4WD.

Ford and Geely could be about to team-up and use the Blue Oval’s European factory, according to a report in Reuters.The brands are reportedly in talks for Geely to use Ford factory space in Europe to produce vehicles to be sold on the continent, which would allow Geely to skirt tariffs placed on Chinese built cars. The pair discussed a potential framework for shared vehicle technologies, which included automated driving functionality.The talks are said to be at an advanced stage and have been going on for months.Delegations from both companies have traveled to their counterparts’ respective headquarters over the past few weeks. Innovation in car automation and seamless technology from Chinese brands has long been admired by CEO Jim Farley.Farley said back in 2024 that Chinese automakers presented an “existential threat” to the Western automotive industry.He has praised the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, which he admitted at the time he had been driving for months.Earlier this week, it was reported the Blue Oval was about to begin building electric cars with Xiaomi in the United States.It is now believed the joint-venture will not happen after both companies ruled out the move publicly. This differs from Ford’s response to these Geely rumours with the Blue Oval telling Reuters: “We have discussions with lots of companies all the time on a variety of topics. Sometimes they materialise, sometimes they don't."Geely did not comment on the potential of the partnership. Such a move would offer some benefits for Geely, with the company likely able to avoid the EV tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese car importers.Ford currently has manufacturing plants in Germany, Romania and Spain, which would allow Geely to tap into factories already built in the region. Other Chinese automakers have already made the jump to European manufacturing, including Leapmotor building cars in Stellantis’ Spain plant. Ford could also gain valuable EV technologies from Geely, with the brand already having several electric-only models on sale.This could be particularly important for Ford, as emissions standards continue to tighten around the world, especially in Australia. Australia’s tough New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will see brands incur fines on vehicles that do not meet emissions standards. Selling electric vehicles accumulates credits for manufacturers, which can then be sold to other brands Down Under or mitigate against a its high-emissions vehicles. Geely technologies could assist Ford in gaining the electrified vehicle architecture for models, such as between Renault and Geely on models like the incoming Filante hybrid SUV.Ford Australia told CarsGuide earlier this year the brand is more focused on consumer demand rather than emissions limitations.Nearly all of Ford's models sold in Australia employ internal combustion engines, with models like the Ranger ute and Everest SUV being some of the most popular in the country.

Why do the full-sized American dual-cab pick-ups cost so much in Australia?In 2019, the price gap between the range-topping Ford Ranger Raptor mid-sized ute from $75,990 and the cheapest Ram 1500 Express from $79,950, was less than $5000.But, while today’s Raptor has jumped to $90,690, the least-expensive Ram has leaped to $141,950 in Laramie Sport and Rebel grades.The price difference between the two utes is 10 times more than what it used to be.So, what gives, especially when, back in its US home market, said Rams kick off from just over $A92,000 post-currency conversion. Even with the cost of shipping, shouldn’t the 1500 slip in at under $100K?As it turns out, not a chance.Not even with lower ex-factory pricing for third-party importers Ateco Automotive, since the Ram, like all of the full-sized American utes, must undergo highly complex and very expensive transformation processes before and after each model lands on Australian soil.One that goes well beyond swapping the steering wheel over to the proper side.To start with, even prior to launch, there are mandatory Australian compliance and Australian Design Rules certification assessments required to be conducted in conjunction with the original manufacturer and factory. This can take months or years to complete.Once the green light is given, and a suitable vehicle engineering firm such as the Walkinshaw Automotive Group is chosen (as is the case with Ram as well as General Motors Special Vehicles’ Chevrolet Silverado and the Toyota Tundra), the utes can then be shipped over to the various remanufacturing facilities in Australia.Post customs, we’re talking about traditional production-line factory processes here, complete with all the necessary specialised equipment and skills required to handle intricate conversions.It’s worth keeping in mind that all the utes are imported as complete vehicles, in original left-hand drive (LHD) configuration, from North America, before being stripped down to thousands of pieces in Melbourne, in preparation for right-hand drive (RHD) conversion. Engines, body panels, lights, axles, wheels, dashboards, seats, trim, wiring looms… the works.One of the upshots of all this is the level of Australian engineering expertise that has been kept alive since local full-vehicle manufacturing ceased here in 2017. Many of the employees are ex Holden, Ford and Toyota.Taking in management, engineering, production-line and supplier-related personnel, the headcount in Australia alone is said to exceed 3000 people between all four brands.And still the costs add up.Then the utes undergo the remanufacturing processes, using bespoke parts necessary to meet both RHD and ADR requirements.Note that these can run up to 500 or more unique pieces per vehicle, depending on model, with many sourced within Australia using local suppliers, though some original North American factory assistance does also occur at times.It’s also worth bearing in mind that some of these parts can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to tool up here.Some vehicles require over 80 man-hours to complete the conversion job. Ram says its 200-plus production-line staff can make up to 20 utes per day, or 100 per week, depending on demand.Plus, significant investment has already been undertaken to boost production capacity, in larger and more efficient production facilities at Walkinshaw Automotive Group in the lead up to the latest Ram, Silverado and Tundra.Whether these currently run at their intended capacity following the 17.5 per cent sales downturn in full-sized American utes in Australia is not known.All this has to happen before the finished, RHD utes leave their remanufacturing facilities, to be stored and then trucked to dealers right around the country. Distribution is yet another massive expense that needs to be factored in.Then there is the added cost of meeting customer expectations.While nobody will confirm this on the record, we understand that the Australian remanufacturing processes extend to significantly improving the quality compared to the original factory source, creating extra cost to the models sold here.With over 800,000 F-Series trucks (making it America’s best-selling vehicle, period), 577,000 Silverados (at number two) and 374,000 Rams (in fifth spot overall) sold in the USA last year, the market is hyper-competitive, meaning costs are cut to keep prices low and production is fast to meet demand.The step-up in quality for Australians extends to ordering higher-specification audio, display screens, seating and trim components from the manufacturer, or replacing inferior parts with better locally-supplied items. Hard plastics and fibreglass materials just won’t cut it at the retail prices required to make a profit on these utes.Furthermore, local consumers are used to a high degree of equipment and demand best-possible safety, adding tens of thousands to the bottom line.Little wonder, then, that each model now starts at well over $120,000 on the road when it finally makes it to dealer forecourts throughout Australia, extending to nearly $200,000 for luxury grades and over one-quarter of a million dollars for specialty versions like the (now discontinued but still in stock) high-performance Ram TRX.Whether the market is willing to sustain six-figure utes at profitable volumes is another matter, but at least now you know why American pick-ups are so expensive in 2026.

After years of ownership struggles and increased competition from Chinese rivals, Korea’s third-biggest automaker, KGM (formerly SsangYong) has had its strongest sales result in 11 years, posting an operating profit up 336 per cent year-on-year, with exports increasing by 12.7 per cent.In total, the brand sold 110,535 units globally in 2025.It is a radical turn-around for a brand that only a few years ago was rapidly running out of options after an elongated sale process from previous owner, Mahindra Group.At the time, the debt-laden automaker was struggling to find new owners, and was facing bankruptcy and re-structure.The once-embattled Korean brand’s new owner, KG Group, has turned an ailing ship around, injecting new life into its range of popular and historically value-positioned utes, 4x4s, and SUVs.Despite this saga, which dragged on for years, the brand known as SsangYong at the time was comparatively thriving in Australia as a niche but solid value player. Its diesel-powered Musso ute and Rexton 4x4 continued to sell in decent numbers, with its range of SUVs faring less well since the arrival of even more aggressively priced options from China.First off the rank for KGM’s re-boot in Australia was the Torres mid-size SUV, which replaced the Korando in combustion, hybrid, and EV forms, followed by the resurrected Actyon nameplate as an upper-mid-size SUV in combustion and now hybrid guise.It also recently added Australia’s first monocoque electric ute, the Musso EV, and the brand is now on the cusp of launching its next-generation replacement for the larger diesel Musso ute, codenamed Q300, as part of an expanded Musso sub-brand that's expected to spawn a larger pick-up truck.The next-generation diesel Musso will launch in Korea imminently, with an Australian launch no doubt not far behind.While KGM is now facing particularly tough competition in Australia with the rise of Chinese hybrid and electric options in many of the same market segments, a lot of KGM’s global success is coming from markets in Europe and South America.The brand said newly launched hybrid versions of its range were a major source of growth, now accounting for nearly a third of its global sales.In Australia last year, KGM was down 23.7 per cent year-on-year, with 4116 sales. This places it in a similar mid-tier sales bracket to Geely, Omoda Jaecoo, and Skoda. The brand is no doubt hoping the next-gen diesel Musso will reignite sales as it and many brands struggle for relevancy in a changing market. The Musso 4x4 ute is the brand’s best seller, accounting for nearly half of its volume in Australia over the course of 2025, with the related Rexton 4x4 SUV accounting for a third of the brand’s volume last year.However, while KGM faces tough competition from its Chinese rivals, that hasn’t stopped it tapping into some of the most renowned brands for technology, which should pay dividends in the future.For example, KGM has an arrangement with BYD to source its signature lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ batteries, and has also established a partnership with Chery to develop a vehicle on the Chinese giant’s new platform and gain access to its hybrid tech.Stay tuned for more on KGM’s plans for the diesel Musso ute later in 2026.

Kia Australia has confirmed it has asked its Korean HQ to deliver a new-look Tasman that will help revive the ute's slow sales in our market, with the brand insisting "it has to work".Tasman reviews often point positively to the vehicle's cabin, ride and capability, with the controversial exterior design proving the one lingering weakness.The Tasman is off to a slow-start in Australia, falling short of its 1666 monthly/20,000 annually target, though the brand is still confident of hitting that number as fleet agreements fall into place. In December 2025, just 480 units found homes.Asked when Kia in Australia would ask its Korean HQ to update the look, a spokesperson replied "you're assuming we haven't already"."We've been quite vocal, and we always have been with this car in particular," they said. "We're very vocal with our superiors, and up front. We're definitely being very deliberate in what we think might be hampering its sales performance."If we want to be a third of the total production volume, they've got to be receptive.As to when we could expect it, the model's mid-life facelift is the most likely timeframe, with the brand citing the costs associated with a "major redesign".Asked if we can expect an update, the spokesperson replied "I think you can"."But it's not necessarily going to happen at the speed at which you might feel the market might be thinking," they said. "Because a major redesign, it's not simple. And when you've already invested in tooling for sheet metal and tooling for plastics, it's a multi-million-dollar process."While the brand wouldn't be drawn on timeframes, it later pointed out that Kia's facelift windows can be two to three years, which – given the Tasman launched in 2025 – could see 2027 or 2028 as the potential window.

Is Australia’s fascination with XXL utes waning?Ten years on from the introduction of the first Ram full-sized pick-up series converted from left-hand drive (LHD) to right-hand drive (RHD) in Melbourne, what was shaping up as a growing segment with massive promise has instead floundered in recent times.In 2025, despite recent introductions of new and/or improved models from Ram, Ford, General Motors and Toyota, sales in the Pick-Up/CC Utes above $100,000 category in Australia tumbled by 17.5 per cent compared to the year before.This has resulted in just 8763 registrations – down from 10,611 units the year before – between four main players: Ram 1500/2500/3500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Heavy Duty, Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra.A very small pool for such big fish to hunt in. And yet there are further pitfalls that lay ahead for the not-so-humble American pick-up as we know it.There are currently other, smaller firms importing and converting specific models from the USA vying for largely the same market.One of the higher-profile ones is Brisbane-based AusEV, that has specialised in distributing and even exporting locally-remanufactured RHD versions of the Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicle (EV) since 2024. Its main buyers are commercial, mining and agriculture based.Now representing somewhat of a bargain amongst full-sized utes, AUEEV’s Lightning in base Pro 98kWh guise has just had its price slashed by an almost unbelievable $60,000, from $169,990 to $109,990, before on-road costs.This makes it the least-expensive big ute currently offered in Australia, undercutting the cheapest, which happens to be the turbo V6-petrol powered F-150 that Ford Australia also has remanufactured from LHD but by a different entity, by about $5000.With last month’s announcement that global Lightning production has already ceased due to a lack of sales and steep losses, AusEV says that the F-150 Lightning pricing reflects its run-out mode status, ahead of a petrol-electric hybrid replacement – dubbed F-150 Lightning EREV (Extended Range EV) – taking over from 2027.Whatever the case, it’s another thorn in Ford Australia’s side, with its own F-150 finding just 792 buyers last year, due in part to stop-sale actions as a result of technical issues, that are said to have since been resolved with the recently-launched Series II models.Now, whether the F-150 can also fend off further internal competition in the form of the high-profile Ranger Super Duty, which offers some of its towing capabilities but for much less money, remains to be seen.The F-150’s 2025 sales tally was even beaten by the Tundra’s disappointing 837 units, even though it costs substantially more, though whether the Toyota is profitable as a result is not known.Finally, the big ute market in Australia has also come under pressure from Chinese utes like the BYD Shark 6 PHEV (plug-in hybrid EV) and GWM Cannon Alpha, which are slightly larger than most traditional mid-sized utes.At the Cannon’s 2024 local debut, a spokesperson even referred to it as straddling the two ute size classes, though the tape measure suggests this is optimistic.So, what’s changed in the market to cause the big-ute sales decline? Runaway pricing must surely factor strongly.Back in 2018, Ram had enjoyed surprisingly strong sales in a specialist market largely all to its own, thanks to the DS-series 1500 being successfully touted as “Eating Utes for Breakfast” from around $80,000. To put that into context, the Ford Ranger Wildtrak only cost about $5K less.Whilst lacking the latter’s sophistication, safety and finesse, the 1500 boasted both impressive girth and an evocative V8 Hemi gurgle, capturing an enthusiastic outer-suburban and rural niche where size and bulk are assets, not liabilities.But by 2024, the DS-series 1500 had been superseded by the far-more high-tech DT-series, starting from $142K. While the Ram has remained the most popular big ute in its class for eight years running, at 2674 units last year, its share slid by over 17 per cent.Exacerbating the situation is the decision to drop the old Hemi V8 for a high-tech six-cylinder turbo-petrol powertrain which, on paper, is better in every major metric, including performance and economy.But while hardcore fans have complained loud enough worldwide for Ram to reintroduce the V8 in America this year, Australians may have to wait much longer for its return.That said, there are still plenty of unsold 2024 model-year DT 1500 V8s available at dealers around Australia at the time of writing, so maybe the market for such pick-ups has been satiated anyway.Either way, with the high cost of remanufacturing today’s far-more highly-specified utes from LHD to RHD in Australia, it seems almost certain that the days of sub-$100K pricing for these big utes are gone – along with the consumers who bought these in the first place.Will American pick-up sales turn around? Don’t hold your breath.

Ineos Automotive has unveiled its new Grenadier four-wheel drive with some Australian-tuned upgrades.The Black edition Grenadier will sit at the top of range, with a starting price of $122,000, before on-road costs. The special edition upgrades are available on both the wagon and ute versions of the car. The rugged off-road capabilities and minimalist interior see the Grenadier line up as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series.However, the French-built, British branded and German-engineered Grenadier is more expensive than the 70 Series, which starts from $79,200, before on-roads for the cheapest automatic variant. With a starting price of $105,000 for the double cab chassis, it is priced more similarly to the new-generation Land Rover Defender, which differs from the Grenadier’s ladder frame by resting on a monocoque frame.Ineos has said the new Black Edition has received some additional gear to give it some Australia-specific improvements. There are new specialist all terrain tyres from BFGoodrich, which are said to be more durable and offer consistent performance on a range of off-road surfaces. Plus, the Grenadier has undergone some other tuning, with a new variable-ratio steering system to aid sharp manoeuvring, especially on uneven terrain.The variable ratio steering box allows for a lower ratio around the central steering position, delivering "increased precision and responsiveness" according to the brand. It has some other comfort upgrades to improve long-distance cruising the car, in addition, the turning circle has also been reduced by around five per cent. The Black edition receives several blacked out elements on the body work of the car, such as the grille and skid plates.There are 18-inch black alloy wheels, privacy glass and lockable spare wheel storage. On the inside, the car gets a dark interior headlining and carpet flooring. The niche brand has said while there is no limit on volume, the car will have a limited production timeframe. The Black Edition Grenadier will be available with the same petrol and diesel choices as on the rest of the range. The BMW-sourced 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine produces 210kW and 450Nm, while the diesel has 183kW and 550Nm. Both engine choices are mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with a proper 4x4 transfer case.2026 Ineos Grenadier price