Off road

Chinese brand Foton has released a range of new accessories for its Tunland pick-up to help it battle the big name utes. Foton has focused on three distinct packages catered for potential uses for its ute in partnership with Ironman 4x4. The first is designed to elevate off-roading and adventuring experience, and includes canopies, roller covers and roof platforms.It is the most expensive of the packages.  The canopy is available with either solid alloy opening panels or glass windows around the sides, both costing $6,845.85. The manual roll cover costs $2814.08, with the electrically operated one increasing the price to $3717.07. A rear tonneau cover is also available for purchase with a sports bar on the V9 and without it on the V7, both priced at $950.62. Both models can also be optioned with a roof platform costing $2558.05. The maximum cost of this cargo package is $14,071.59.This would push the price of a base Tunland V7 up to more than $54,000, before on-roads. The next package available focuses on its load lugging capacity. A seven-pin tow bar kit is available for $1560.89, along with RedArc electric brake controller costing $871.33 that is on run out. There are three items that are only available for pre-order at this stage, which are an electric brake controller ($1428.61), Anderson plug kit ($992.95) and recovery point kit ($418.01).This costs a total of $5271.79.The final package targets the general use of the Tunland, with a series of covering options. There is a carpet mat set ($129.95), rubber deep dish set ($212.64) and a hybrid of the pair ($288.86). A rubber tray liner is available for pre-order and will cost $232.42. All accessories are covered by the seven-year warranty.The Tunland returned to Aussie shores late last year with workhorse V7 and lifestyle V9 models. It starts from $39,990 for V7, with prices ranging up to $49,990 for the top-end V9.The Tunland finds itself in a tough battle against the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and mild hybrid set-up, producing 120kW and 450Nm. It sold 715 units up to June, but is yet to make a dent in the hold of the established pack. 

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KGM has launched the new, second-generation version of its Musso ute in the UK, bringing right-hand drive production online and providing a preview of the turbo-diesel dual cab before its Australian arrival this October.Named Musso Rhino in standard trim (musso is Korean for rhinoceros) and Musso Rhino+ in lengthened form, the UK introduction confirms basic specs and gives an insight into likely standard features for Australia.Under the bonnet, the Musso is powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine sending 149kW (at 3800rpm) and 400Nm (from 1400 to 2800rpm) to a selectable 4WD system via an Aisin-sourced six-speed auto transmission.For reference, the base Ford Ranger’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel delivers 125kW/405Nm while the entry-level Toyota HiLux (manual) sits at 150kW/420Nm. Combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel consumption is 7.9L/100km with CO2 emissions of 252g/km. The drivetrain incorporates 2WD high-range, 4WD high-range and 4WD low-range settings with hill start assist and hill descent control onboard.Off-road credentials include a 30.9-degree approach angle and 27.8 degree departure angle for the standard Musso, with the long version at 30.6 degrees and 24.5 degrees, respectively. Minimum ground clearance is 248mm.Speaking of differences between the two versions, the standard Musso’s load bed is 1300mm long, offers a 1011-litre capacity and a payload of 1090kg with a 6750kg gross vehicle mass (GVM) and enough width to accommodate a Euro-pallet.The long bed model increases those stats to 1610mm, 1262 litres, 1200kg and 6900kg, respectively. Tray width (1570mm) and depth (570mm) are the same for both versions.Both models also feature a standard load bed liner, eight tie-down anchors, a wide opening tailgate, an LED load bed light and rear bumper corner steps.Maximum braked trailer towing capacity is a category-competitive 3.5 tonnes, with trailer sway control, a rear-view camera, Clear Sight View (uses the front camera to create a composite view of what's directly under the nose) and a 360-degree surround view camera system standard. Other standard equipment includes LED projection headlights, 18-inch brushed chrome alloy wheels, silver side steps, black and silver roof rails, Nappa leather seat trim, power-adjustable and ventilated front seats, heated front and rear seats, dual-zone climate control (with dial controls and rear vents), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreenAlso included are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, rear USB-C ports, digital radio, keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers and adaptive cruise control.UK pricing positions the Musso Rhino at £38,995 (~$75,350) and the Musso Rhino+ at £39,995 (~$77,300), before VAT (Value Added Tax), but as with most cars, expect it to be significantly more affordable when it lands in Australia.

All automatic versions of the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series are available to order once again in Australia as the company makes some subtle tweaks to reduce emissions.The LC70 Series now comes with a 20-litre AdBlue tank across the line-up, which allows the 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine to comply with Euro 6 emissions regulations.The AdBlue system uses the vehicle’s selective catalytic reduction process to inject AdBlue into the exhaust to help reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.In 76 Series wagon, 78 Series Troopcarrier and 79 Series dual-cab chassis grades the AdBlue refuelling port is located above the front left wheel arch and has a lockable lid.79 Series single-cab chassis grades, on the other hand, have the AdBlue refuelling port between the cab and rear wheels on the passenger side.The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine produces an unchanged 150kW of power and 500Nm of torque.The 78 Series Troopcarrier grades now receive a smaller 130L diesel fuel tank with this update, bringing it line with the rest of the 70 Series line-up. It previously had an 180L unit.While all versions of the LC70 with the six-speed automatic transmission are back on sale, including the 76 Series GXL wagon automatic, which had a sales pause since 2025, grades with the five-speed manual transmission are unavailable for the time being.At this stage Toyota hasn’t given a timeline for when manual-equipped versions of the LC70 will return to Australian shores.“After pausing orders for certain LandCruiser 70 Series in 2025 to manage customer expectations around vehicle supply challenges, we are excited to say that order books are now back open,” said Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operation John Pappas.“The addition of the AdBlue system will also ensure the vehicles meet the latest Euro VI emission standards.”Toyota hasn’t detailed pricing for the LC70 yet with the inclusion of the AdBlue system.The line-up currently starts at $75,600 before on-road costs for the 76 Series Workmate wagon automatic, and extends to $83,500 before on-road costs for the 79 Series GXL dual-cab chassis automatic.It’s likely pricing may rise incrementally but we’ll have to wait and see if this is the case.

China could be about to take down the diesel ute for good. CATL has unveiled its new 8C battery specifically designed to charge light commercial EVs, including utes.The battery can charge from 20 to 80 per cent in less than seven minutes, with a full charge taking less than 10 minutes.High diesel fuel prices and increasingly stringent emissions standards are accelerating the diesel ute’s demise, particularly in Australia. The ute segment has declined more than 11 per cent so far in 2026, with almost all diesel models impacted.Electrified alternatives such as the BYD Shark 6 have provided a sneak peak into the future, but roadblocks to a full-scale uptake remain. The Shark 6’s plug-in hybrid set-up has been a revelation in Australia, but it only has an electric-only driving range of less than 100km - insufficient to be routinely used on just EV power.Its 30kWh battery takes around half-an-hour to fill from 30 to 80 per cent. Other brands have begun introducing fully-electric utes in Australia, including the KGM Musso EV, with the MG U9 EV coming soon. Toyota recently launched an electric version of its hugely popular HiLux ute.Its 59kWh battery has a total driving range of 315km, according to the more generous NEDC standards.A WLTP figure is more likely to sit in the mid-to-high 200km range. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent via DC takes 30 minutes - a figure not among the top scores in the EV space. EV driving range and charging remains a challenging combo to perfect.Diesel power has proven to be effective for utes, ensuring they can get through the heavy and constant work required.Weight and the necessary high amounts of power and torque pose a challenge to electric utes.CATL’s new battery could provide a big step towards the usability of them.Chinese brands BYD, Chery and Geely have developed fast charging batteries, but CATL's example is especially designed for commercial vehicles.It would mean these electric utes could be charged significantly faster, so even if range figures are not as high, the battery can be replenished quickly.CATL also said the battery can excel in extreme conditions, and it only takes an extra two-and-a-half minutes to charge at -20°C.Toyota has a global partnership with CATL and uses its batteries in key models, but not in the HiLux BEV currently.CATL's new battery could be a huge opportunity for Toyota to take its electric ute to the next level.The battery maker has been stepping up its EV fast charging game in recent months.It announced its third generation Shenxing battery earlier this year, capable of charging from 10 to 80 per cent in less than four minutes.

More than 30,000 Jaguar Land Rover SUVs have been subject to urgent recalls in Australia, according to notices from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts. The largest of these recalls concerns 23,313 Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover SUVs for the model years 2019 to 2026.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit,” the notice stated.“As a result, the airbag may fail to deploy in the event of an accident.“In the event of an accident, the airbag not deploying as intended could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”The second issue relates to the Jaguar F-Pace SUV, Land Rover Defender and Discovery, as well as Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Velar models.It impacts 7152 units from the 2024 to 2026 model years.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor,” the notice stated."This may lead to an oil leak and engine stalling resulting in a loss of motive power whilst driving.“An engine stall or sudden loss of motive power could increase the risk of serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”The brand will contact the affected owners of all affected vehicles asking them to contact a dealer and have the work to fix the issue carried out, free of charge. A spokesperson Jaguar Land Rover said these are recalls are a part of a global recall and there have not been any reported incidents of the issue occurring in Australia. 

It's easy to make a vehicle work on the road or off-road, but it's much harder to make it excel in both situations. But that's precisely what Range Rover did with the Sport model which combines effortless cruising with genuine off-road ability. It even looks great. But that's where the cheering stops, because this is a vehicle with a very patchy reliability record. But should you ignore it now?

The Ford F-150 Platinum is the new top-grade variant in the company’s F Series truck range. This full-sized dual-cab ute has a refreshed exterior, a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, and 4500kg towing capacity and is taking on the likes of the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, and Toyota Tundra.  But at $164,000 (excluding on-road costs) does this big rig justify its price-tag?

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Ram Australia has confirmed it is working hard behind the scenes to return Hemi V8 utes to its showrooms.While the V8 has made a triumphant return in the States, MY26 Ram 1500s in Australia are powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder ‘Hurricane’ engine, albeit more powerful and more torquey than the Hemi it replaces.But even though the new engine has become more popular than the V8 in the big ute’s home market, Ram Australia is aiming to bring the option of a V8 back in the form of a fire-breathing top-spec performance variant - the Ram 1500 TRX SRT.“Earlier this year, Ram Trucks USA confirmed the return of the Ram TRX,” Ram Trucks Australia spokesperson Joshua Dowling said. “We said at the time the reborn TRX is under serious consideration for Australia, and that statement remains true today. “What we can tell you is that the TRX is more likely to come to Australia than not, but we still have a number of engineering gateways to go through, unlike the grey import market.”One of the reasons American utes are so much more expensive than they are in the US is the remanufacturing process, which is also the reason there’s a delay between the model cycle there and here in Australia.The extreme likelihood of the TRX returning to Australia is only dampened slightly by the small potential for an engineering ‘hurdle’ to deem the project too expensive, but it seems almost certain that it’ll happen.In fact, despite the lack of full confirmation the TRX will launch in Australia, Dowling said there are customers who have placed deposits in the event the supercharged V8 ute returns to Oz.Revived by new Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, the new generation of TRX boasts a 6.2-litre supercharged ‘Hemi’ V8 under the bonnet, producing 579kW and 922Nm and making the full-sized ‘truck’ capable of a claimed 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds.The TRX most recently available in Australia offered up 523kW and 882Nm, by comparison.Order books opened this week in the US for the 2027 TRX SRT, starting from USD$99,995 (A$145,000), so Australians can be expected to pay plenty more once reengineering has taken place. For reference, the last-gen TRX Final Edition (with 523kW and 882Nm) was priced from $249,950 in Australia a year ago.“Our vehicles are made to factory quality standards and, in order to be thorough, that process takes time,” Dowling added.“So we ask our TRX fans, please be patient… and we hope you won't be waiting too long. “We can confirm we are working around the clock with our engineering team in Australia and with engineers in the US to make the return of TRX a reality.”In further promising news for V8 fans, the even more wicked-looking Ram 1500 Rumble Bee SRT is also a chance for Australia.“The recently unveiled Ram 1500 Rumblebee muscle truck is also on our wish list. If it were to come to Australia, it would come after the TRX because of the engineering work required… but if everything goes our way, it won't be far behind.”In its top-end specification, the Rumble Bee SRT has the same supercharged Hemi V8 as the TRX with the same 579kW/922Nm, but a ‘standard’ Rumble Bee with a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 295kW/556Nm is also available, as is a Rumble Bee 392 with a 350kW/617Nm 6.4-litre Hemi V8.Ram Australia didn’t indicate which version is at the top of the wishlist.