Tradie

A new exciting ute could be in the works. Jaguar Land Rover and Stellantis are exploring the potential of introducing a Defender-branded full-size pick-up in the United States, according to The Times. The pair announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2026 “to explore opportunities to collaborate on product development” in the US. JLR confirmed it would pursue a range of new products under the Defender brand specifically designed for the US market. The MoU includes product and technology development, with a Defender-badged ute potentially the first new car of this partnership. JLR’s partnership with Stellantis shows the iconic brand wants to take the US market seriously. Its Defender SUV is a popular seller in the US, but it’s subject to heavy import tariffs, limiting profitability for Land Rover in a key market. JLR wants to prioritise the US market to capitalise on rising luxury car demand and the brand's growing popularity there. “Our aspiration in the coming years is to grow our US business to the size of the entire JLR business as it exists today,” JLR CEO PB Balaji said in a June 2026 statement.Full-size pick-ups are some of the most popular cars on sale in North America, so this model could be a huge hit if it gets off the ground.Plans are still at an early stage for the JLR Stellantis ute, but they are expected to be finalised before the end of 2026. The ute is likely to be built in the United States to avoid the high import tariffs.There is no confirmation on whether the new ute will use the Land Rover Defender’s existing D7x architecture or a specific ute platform from Stellantis’ Jeep or Ram. The current Defender rides on a car-based monocoque chassis that is not used on any ute models, but it features a rigid structure like on traditional ladder frame 4WD set-ups. Jeep and Ram have more ready-made ute chassis options, with the Ram 1500’s DT platform or the Jeep Wrangler’s JL platform a streamlined fit. Any Australian prospects are a long way down the line for this ute. It will be initially targeted at the US market, so it will only be built in left-hand drive, reducing its chances of going on sale Down Under. Key full-size pick-up trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 are remanufactured in Australia to be right-hand drive. The Stellantis-built Ram 1500 also undergoes this remanufacturing process, meaning this new ute model could follow a similar path. 

There will soon be a Toyota HiLux for everyone.The Japanese brand has revealed details of its new hydrogen-powered HiLux, which will join the diesel and battery electric versions already on sale.The new Toyota HiLux hydrogen fuel-cell ute will go on sale in Europe in 2028. Toyota Australia has previously confirmed to CarsGuide the hydrogen HiLux will go on sale in Australia the same year.Toyota Europe claims the new hydrogen HiLux, dubbed HiLux FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), will have a targeted driving range of 400km and be able to tow 2500kg. Toyota will fine tune the hydrogen HiLux at next year's Dakar Rally, where the company will race a vehicle based on the gas-powered ute.Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are another form of electric vehicle. Instead of using a battery with stored energy to power electric motors, they convert hydrogen into electricity to power the motors.Hydrogen is stored in a pressurised tank and is mixed with air, and then is pumped into the fuel cell, where a chemical reaction occurs that creates electricity and water. The electricity is stored in a small battery, which powers the electric motors that drive the wheels.The water is expelled out the tailpipe.Toyota is working on a new fuel cell to fit to trucks that would deliver the same grunt as a diesel motor.Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth and fuel-cell vehicles don’t require an enormous battery that are made up of critical minerals. In theory this makes them cheaper.Hydrogen is extremely energy intensive to isolate, which means unless you use green energy it is not very clean, despite the lack of tailpipe emissions.There is barely any infrastructure for hydrogen cars to fill up in Australia, which means an entire network needs to be created. But they can be refilled in about five minutes, which is much quicker than a battery electric vehicle can recharge.Hydrogen is often seen as the answer to heavy vehicles rather than passenger cars. An electric semi-trailer would require an enormous battery to allow it to haul its load, but FCEV tech is seen as the answer because it is lighter and can be refilled faster.It would be easier to install hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along major highways, ports and industrial areas than roll out an urban network.

Toyotas are ubiquitous in Australia, with everything from Camrys and Corollas through to the legendary 4WD LandCruisers near-omnipresent on our roads and bush tracks.But there are some Toyotas that are sold – and popular – overseas but aren’t offered in the Australian market, and if they are offered here they haven’t achieved the sales success Toyota has hoped for. Case in point: the Tundra, while it’s much loved in the good ol’ US of A, it has achieved only middling success here.The Tundra’s sales struggle here have somewhat discouraged Toyota from bringing any other overseas models here and that’s a real shame because there are some appealing vehicles in that mix.Read on.Much respected in off-roading circles, the 4Runner – think a Surf/Fortuner mash-up on HGH (Hard-core Growth Hormone) – has been around in various iterations since 1984. Now in its sixth generation, the 4Runner comes with a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine (204kW and 430Nm), or a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder hybrid powertrain (240kW and 630Nm), both matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s a Toyota off-roader – with part-time or full-time 4WD, drive modes and diff locks – so it’s handy in the dirty stuff, of course.Australia doesn’t need another 4WD, but the 4Runner wouldn’t go astray here.Prices in the US start from MSRP $42,270 (approx. AUD $58,700).Not as well known here, the Sequoia is a well established large SUV in the US market.This large SUV – top-spec versions tip the scales at 2790kg – is more open-road cruiser than hard-core 4WD but, having said that, it still has the mechanicals and tech onboard to traverse difficult terrain. The 2026 Sequoia is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 hybrid (321kW and 790Nm), matched to a 10-speed auto, and is rated to legally tow up to 4309kg.Mid-range variants and upwards have part-time 4WD (with high- and low-range 4WD) and an automatic limited-slip differential.The Sequoia may struggle to find a niche here as stablemate Cruiser has that part of the market sewn up.Feeling posh? Go for the Trailhunter package, replete with an Old Man Emu upgraded suspension, Michelin LTX Trail 265/70R18 tyres, bronze-finished wheels, front recovery hooks and extra underbody protection.Prices in the US start from MSRP $68,725 for an SR5 4WD (approx. AUD $95,456).Like a baby 300 Series, only better – or at least that’s what Toyota wants you to believe.Launched in May this year, this diminutive five-seater FJ – with a 270mm shorter wheelbase than the 250 Series – has a 2.7-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine (producing 120kW and 246Nm), a six-speed auto, part-time 4WD and an electric rear differential lock.It’s boxy and compact – it has a turning circle of 5.5m – and looks set to take on the likes of Suzuki’s Jimny in the cute-but-capable off-road stakes.A Cruiser-based but shrunken ladder-frame structure is the platform for this tough-seeming little nugget of an off-roader.Off-road angles are up there with the 250 Series and, on paper, this FJ has plenty of off-road potential.Sure, this mini Cruiser exists in a niche within a niche but we reckon it’d sell here.Prices in Japan start from 4,500,100 yen (about $40,100).Massive in America and well suited to outdoorsy life in Australia, the Tacoma is a big ute made for rough-and-tumble work and play, so why it hasn’t landed here yet its beyond us.Now available with a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four engine (producing up to 204kW and 430Nm) or a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four hybrid powertrain (producing up to 239kW and 630Nm) that’s matched to either a six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s built on the same chassis as the full-size Tundra and Sequoia, and gains bolstering from a Toyota New Global Architecture-F (TNGA-F) platform of high-strength steel, lightweight aluminium and laser welds. So, robust.And, of course, it’s all packed into a ute with Toyota’s reliable baked-in off-road effectiveness.TRD variants and upwards get Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, and an electronically controlled locking rear differential as standard.Go for a Trailhunter and you get Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged monotube position-sensitive shocks with rear piggyback reservoirs, high-clearance front bumper, rock rails and ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hooks, and 33-inch rugged-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels.We know lots of people in Australia who jump at the chance to own one of these big utes.Prices in the US start from MSRP $32,545 (approx. AUD $45,203).A ute actually designed and engineered to do ute stuff? No way.The HiLux Champ – a Thailand-only vehicle – is an intriguing oddity that’s sure to fire the imagination of many a quirky car fan there and abroad.It’s a 2WD two-seater ute with a choice of three engine types – 2.0L petrol, 2.7L petrol, or a 2.4L four-cylinder diesel – and it has either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission. Depending on your Champ’s spec level it may have a one-tonne payload and a minimum 5.4m turning circle.Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) offers eight grades of the Champ, including short- and long-wheelbase versions, and an unequipped variant with a flat deck is available. With customisation in mind, TMT has made sure the deck has bolt holes at various locations so that custom accessories can be attached.It’s built for purpose and, on paper, certainly has a lot of appeal as a work ute and a mod-friendly vehicle.The Champ would fit right in here.Prices range from 459,000 to 577,000 baht (approx. $19,354 to $24,329).

JAC has officially confirmed it is launching a cab-chassis version of its new Hunter PHEV dual-cab ute in Australia in early 2027.This new JAC Hunter PHEV cab-chassis will perform as a direct rival to the recently introduced BYD Shark 6 Dynamic cab-chassis.The Chinese carmaker claims this particular version of the Hunter PHEV has been developed with tradies, farmers and fleet operators in mind.With the lack of a tub this allows for a tray, canopy, toolbox or specialised body can fitted to the rear of the ute.Pricing and final specifications will be confirmed closer to the launch, as well as the genuine body and tray options.“More than half of the prospective fleet customers we are speaking with want a cab-chassis,” said JAC Motors Australia Managing Director Ahmed Mahmoud.“That is a clear signal that Australian businesses are looking for a more flexible PHEV work platform.”This forthcoming, cab-chassis version of the Hunter PHEV will sit alongside the traditional versions with a tub that have only just started arriving at local dealers.It will also sit alongside the turbo-diesel-powered T9 cab-chassis that launched locally late last year. It’s offered in entry-level Tradepro, as well as Oasis guises.It’s expected the JAC Hunter PHEV cab-chassis will retain the same powertrain as the existing examples with a tub.It marries together a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with dual electric motors for total system outputs of 360kW and 1010Nm. There’s also a 31.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that’s claimed to allow for up to 100km of NEDC-claimed electric range.A 3500kg braked towing capacity, as well as the 3.3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) system are also expected to carry over to the cab-chassis version.At this stage it’s unclear whether JAC is planning to offer multiple Hunter PHEV cab-chassis trims, but regardless it will likely undercut the Shark 6 in terms of price.The entry-level JAC Hunter PHEV Pro is currently $49,988, before on-road costs, whereas the BYD Shark 6 Dynamic cab-chassis is $55,900, before on-road costs.

Renault has revealed its Niagara ute as part of a massive overseas push for the French brand.The Niagara is a true ute, being based on a car-derived platform, rather than a rugged ladder frame that underpins most dual-cabs sold in Australia.In its initial target market of South America, it will do battle with the successful Ford Maverick, the BYD Mako ute, and the incoming new Volkswagen Tukan.The Niagara rides on Renault’s recently-launched RGMP platform, which is a heavily updated version of the CMF-B platform that underpins the new-generation Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Juke and Renault Arkana.Renault says this helps it maintain ‘the comfort of an SUV with the versatility of a pick-up’ although it does have some rugged capabilities, with up to 233mm of ground clearance, approach and departure angles of up to 22.1 degrees front and rear.It also scores a cargo bed with 938 litres of total available space, with a payload of 654 kilos. It also features a rolling cover as standard, and an electric tailgate. Renault says it has best-in-class towing of 710kg for this style of monocoque ute.It also features suspension specifically designed for the rough conditions of South America, as well as an ‘exclusive rear axle’ design. Unlike most utes, it features multi-link suspension in the rear, which Renault says both improves ride comfort and stability on poor road surfaces.The brand says special attention was paid to integrating the cab section to the load bed area in order to create a more harmonious design with more seamlessly connected parts.Powering the Niagara is a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol (and flex-fuel) engine. It produces 115kW/270Nm in front-wheel drive variants, or 120kW/270Nm in all-wheel drive versions and can be chosen either with a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch automatic.All-wheel drive versions have an on-demand torque split system, which relies on the traction sensors to send drive to the appropriate axle automatically. When driving on the road, the system defaults to front-wheel drive like most on-demand AWD SUVs.The brand says the Niagara underwent 800,000km worth of testing across South America in preparation for its launch, including extreme heat, tough road conditions and long-distance journeys.At 4940mm long, it is slightly smaller than its closest rival sold in Australia, the KGM Musso EV.Feature-wise it also incorporates full LED exterior lighting, as well as a modern cabin featuring a 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. It also features an electronic shifter for automatic variants to free up centre console space.The new ute is part of a push by Renault to be one of 14 new models built for markets outside of Europe by 2030 and to that end the Niagara is built in Argentina.With the notable focus on South America though, it looks as though the Niagara will join the list of cool-looking would-be replacements for cult hits like the Subaru Brumby or Proton Jumbuck, which may never see Australian shores.Like most of its rivals built for and in Latin American markets, it is likely to remain exclusively in left-hand drive, with unique flex-fuel engines not sold in our market and likely with lower levels of safety equipment needed to either comply with Australian Design Rules or secure a high ANCAP score.Renault joins a list of embattled brands in Australia’s increasingly competitive market, with its sales shrinking 7.5 per cent year on year. The French brand is faring significantly better than its nemesis Peugeot locally, but remains a niche offering with its 2959 units this year on a similar level to brands like Chevrolet, Mini and KGM.

Leapmotor is still actively considering developing a ute and Australia is a key factor in whether it will go ahead.The Chinese brand has been open about the possibility of a ute model in the past but it sounds like those conversations are getting more serious.Speaking at the global launch of the B03X compact EV, Leapmotor International Head of Product and Marketing Francesco Giacalone highlighted the importance of the Australian market in Leapmotor’s global strategy before hinting at a possible ute model.“I mean, I don't want to say too many things, but this morning we had a very, very interesting conversation about Australia and what we as Leapmotor can do to create products that fit that market and for which maybe another market there is no demand, and you can guess what type of products they are.”When pressed by CarsGuide if he was talking about a pick-up, Giacalone responded, “I never say so.”But he said there is demand for a ute in some key South America markets as well as Australia, which could prompt Leapmotor to develop a pick-up model.“The regionalisation of our strategy implies that there are demands that, in this moment, are not European centric. Europe is not a pick-up market. Brazil is. Australia maybe.“So of course, Australia right now represents, from a volume point of view, not as such strong arguments to build a standalone car for one market, but within the Leapmotor strategy to go global and be present global - in South America and Brazil is 30% of the market in terms of registration.“So there could be interest to develop that things. But there are a lot of ideas. I mean, the same way there are ideas about vans, the same ideas about even bigger, large SUVs.”Asked if that meant Leapmotor would look at developing a large off-road-focused ladder-frame SUV, to compete with the forthcoming Geely Battleship 700, Giacalone said that was unlikely as it doesn’t fit with the Leapmotor brand.“If it will be in the Leapmotor DNA. Leapmotor will not be the right… is not the right off-road brand. It is not that one. But from a visual design point of view, that direction is being considered.”That means a rugged looking large SUV is on the cards, but without the off-road capability. This could sit above the D19 SUV that the company confirmed would be shown in global spec at the upcoming Paris motor show.If Leapmotor greenlights a ute, it will enter an incredibly competitive segment in Australia that is stagnating when it comes to sales volume.Year-to-date sales figures to the end of August show the 4x4 pick-up segment down by 13.6 per cent, with last year’s top seller, the Ford Ranger in 4x4 guise, down by 12 per cent. The Toyota HiLux 4x4 sales are also down by 6.4 per cent.A number of predominantly Chinese newcomers have failed to fire in the ute segment in the past couple of years, with the JAC T9, MG U9 and related LDV Terron 9, as well as the Foton Tunland all recording modest sales.The BYD Shark 6 has been the clear exception to the rule, becoming a huge sales hit in Australia.More competition is set to arrive soon, too, with Chery’s hyped diesel plug-in hybrid Stockman landing in the coming months, while Geely is also developing a PHEV ute.

BYD’s Shark 6 is about to have some company, with the brand locking in a new ute.It isn’t the little plug-in-hybrid BYD Mako, which was revealed in Brazil in August, but could be a more off-road focused version of the Shark 6.The Mako is based on the Sealion 6 SUV and uses a monocoque chassis rather than a ladder frame underpinning found on proper rugged utes such as the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and the BYD Shark 6.Now it appears the incoming new ute will be more like the Shark 6 than the Mako.BYD New Zealand General Manager Warren Willmot told New Zealand outlet Autotrader, the Mako was not suitable and another ute is in the works.“Not for NZ, we declined this.“Instead Aus/NZ are working on a more suitable workhorse ute for our market.”Earlier this year Group Vice President of BYD and General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division Liu Xueliang told CarsGuide a specific Aussie model was coming.“We have another special model, just for Australian customers,” Liu said via translator, but wouldn’t be drawn on further details.Chief Operating Officer of BYD Australia Stephen Collins said no more could be said yet, but the brand will “have more to say about that later in the year".It now appears this special model will be a ute and the year is fast running out so BYD might be preparing an announcement sooner rather than later.It is unclear whether this will be a totally separate model from the current Shark 6 or another variant.BYD has recently expanded its Shark 6 range with the addition of an entry-level cab-chassis variant and a more high-end Performance grade.The company could further expand the range with a proper off-road focused version of the Shark 6, with the ute’s 4WD ability one of its biggest weaknesses.A proper off-road ute makes the most sense and would fit the special model for Australia, with Aussie buyers snapping up tough 4WD utes such as the Ford Ranger Raptor, Toyota HiLux Rogue and Mitsubishi Triton Raider.It could borrow some of the learnings from the related Denza B5 to beef up the Shark 6's toughness.Other options include the tradie-focused smaller single cab variant, or going larger and match the GWM Cannon Alpha or even full-size US-style utes.

Ford’s two biggest names in Australia suffered huge sales declines in August 2026. The Ford Ranger sold just 2440 examples across two-wheel and four-wheel drive variants, equating to a more than 50 per cent drop compared to August 2025. This exacerbates an already challenging year for Australia's best-selling vehicle in 2025. It has sold 32,796 units so far in 2026 compared to 37,183 in 2025 - a near 12 per cent overall drop.Ford said it's a blip on the radar.The Blue Oval was forced to recall almost 14,000 Ranger examples built between November 2025 and July 2026 last month due to a potentially fault airbag.The brand held back deliveries of some of its vehicles to have the issue rectified, contributing to lower figures in August.A spokesperson for Ford Australia said its sales result in August heavily impacted by the temporary delivery and demonstration hold placed on some Ranger dual-cab variants as part of the airbag recall."The hold prevented Ranger Double Cab vehicles in dealer stock from being delivered during August," they said."As a result, Ford’s reported monthly volume was approximately 30% lower than anticipated for the month."The August figure primarily reflects the delayed timing of Ranger deliveries rather than a material change in customer demand."Ford’s Everest large SUV also had a tough August 2026, and was down almost 25 per cent compared to July 2026. Everest has had an even more steep decline on year-to-date data, with a more than 14 per cent drop up to August 2026.The Ranger has been a staple of the best-selling car charts over the past few years, consistently winning out in a tight wrestling match with the Toyota HiLux. August 2026 marked one of few occasions where the HiLux outsold the Ranger - and it has done so by some margin. The HiLux more than doubled the Ranger’s sales in August, registering 4833 units, having also toppled the Blue Oval’s ute in June, but by a smaller gap. Diesel ute sales are expected to only slow from here, so the Ranger will face a serious challenge to reclaim its place at the top of the charts in Australia.  Increasingly stringent emissions regulations and the ongoing fuel price increases are having a material impact on the future of diesel utes in Australia, like the Ranger.The BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid was one of the only utes to experience a meaningful upturn in sales last month, with a near 10 per cent increase. Electrified utes like the Shark 6 have been eating into the sales of established diesel competition like the Ranger since it went on sale in late 2024. Ford sells a PHEV variant of its Ranger in Australia, and the local brand has been contacted to see how many units it sells compared to its diesel sibling. As emissions regulations continue to squeeze big CO2-emitting vehicles like the diesel Ranger out of the market, more hybrid and electric utes have entered the fray. New options include:KGM’s Musso is available as a fully-electric uteToyota offers an electric variant of the HiLux, mainly to fleet buyersGWM's Cannon Alpha is offered with a PHEV set-upJAC recently introduced its Hunter PHEV ute that will rival the BYD Shark 6The pair are soon to be joined by the Stockman diesel PHEV from CheryIt's not just Ranger that is facing more tough competition in Australia.The Everest must contend with a raft of new Chinese competition, including the GWM Tank 500 available in conventional hybrid, PHEV and diesel forms.

This is the real danger of utes and SUVs.For the longest time, sedans were the dominant player of the car market and held the majority of sales.Over the past 15 years though, the SUV revolution has been in full swing across the world, taking over from those sedans and hatches that previously dominated the sales charts.SUVs have higher bonnets than regular cars, making it more difficult for drivers to see over the top of, and presenting more deadly consequences for pedestrians when they get hit.When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle with a lower bonnet, they often roll onto the top of the car.But, on vehicles with raised bonnets like SUVs and utes, pedestrians go under the vehicle, according to research conducted by The New York Times.SUVs and utes are by far the most popular cars in Australia, and research like this is not going ignored.Put simply: Bonnets are getting taller, increasing the danger to pedestrians.The study found that since 2009, the number of pedestrian deaths each year in collisions with vehciles has increased by an enormous 75 per cent. Between 200 and 400 pedestrians a year would have been spared if vehicles had stayed the same height, according to findings from the study.This is despite significant increases in on-board safety systems and software, with safety groups now placing significant emphasis on preventing accidents and not just how cars perform for occupants in crashes with other vehicles or stationary objects.As the top 10 best-selling cars in Australia are all either SUVs or utes, and this is something the local car safety watchdog is paying attention to. The Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) weighed in on the dangers of large pick-ups last year.“Larger vehicles pose a bigger threat to other road users than passenger cars,” ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said. “The best way to reduce the potential risk of fatalities and serious injuries from large vehicles is to make sure they do the best possible job at avoiding a crash.“There is community concern over the size of pickups when they are driving in suburban streets, around schools, and in built-up areas.”A spokesperson for ANCAP told CarsGuide the organisation would consider bonnet heights more closely as part of its safety comparison testing in the future.Transport for NSW have been contacted for comment on bonnet height and their impact on pedestrian safety, but has yet to provide a response.

It has become the great debate in the car industry - have we reached peak ute?Put simply, has the ute market hit its sales limit in terms of volume or can new models and variants attract new buyers to the segment? The answer to these questions is crucial to the future success or failure of some of Australia's most successful new vehicles, as well as highly anticipated newcomers.Looking at the data, it seems like there is a limit on just how many utes Australians are willing and able to buy. In 2025 the ute segment grew only 2.7 per cent over 2024, despite 12 new entrants from several new brands - including Kia, BYD, MG, Foton and GWM.Things have not improved in the first eight months of 2026, sales of utes remain down, especially in the 4x4 segment which has recorded an 13.6 per cent drop.This ‘peak ute’ debate began in January 2025 thanks to comments from then-Toyota Australia boss, Sean Hanley, who admitted he wasn’t confident that more utes arriving would equal more sales overall.“I’m not necessarily sharing a view that it's going to grow astronomically because of the new entrants,” he said. “It may, I could be wrong, but it’ll be interesting to watch.“Looking towards the future, we already know that the number of ute models available to Australian buyers will expand rapidly.“They’ll be competing for an overall ute market that is likely to remain steady, which suggests that the average sales per model will come down as a result.”However, Hanley’s comments have naturally created some push back across the industry, and Volkswagen is the latest brand to weigh in on the debate. Michael Cenci, Volkswagen Australia Product Manager for the Amarok, suggested that Toyota’s perspective on the ute market is driven out of concern for how the latest generation HiLux will perform, as it is an updated, rather than all-new model.Cenci was talking at the introduction of the new Amarok W600, the locally developed special edition of the German brand’s ute built in partnership with Walkinshaw Automotive Group.Positioned as a ‘driver’s car’ rather than an off-road-focused ute like the Ford Ranger Raptor, Mitsubishi Triton Raider and Nissan Navara Warrior, Cenci believes it gives the brand a chance to find clear space in the segment.“ It's a tricky question,” Cenci admitted. “I personally think that wasn't said from a position of strength. I think since that comment was made, there's been so much innovation in the segment, and so many new players, that I don't think you can honestly say that peak ute was reached three, four years ago, however long it was."There's always something new. There's always new avenues to explore. We're exploring one right now. We've created a zig instead of a zag, as you said. We're doing stuff that no one else is doing and that's what innovation in the space is all about. So I don't think we've reached peak ute.“In terms of sales numbers, and as you spoke about before, cutting the pie thinner and thinner. Maybe that's one perspective to look at it, but I don't think that was the intention of the comment. I think the comment was more to do with the actual vehicle offering itself. And I don't believe that's true, no.”Cenci is seemingly referring to the success of newer models like the BYD Shark 6, a plug-in hybrid ute from a Chinese brand with no history in the segment which has still managed to become a sales force. This could be interpreted as an opportunity for other brands to broaden their appeal by offering newer, more efficient powertrain choices than the traditional turbo-diesel engine.But it also explains Volkswagen’s attitude towards the Amarok, specifically the W600, which is designed to be deliberately different from its would-be competitors. “That's the exciting part of the automotive industry,” added Annette Moelhoff, Volkswagen Australia Senior Communications Manager. “It's ever-evolving, ever-changing. I don't think there is such a thing as peak because there's always fresh new ideas and innovative approaches like we've taken with the W600.”