Tradie

Ford will upsize the V6 engine the regular Ranger receives in the USA, though it won't be coming to Australia. As reported by Autoblog, the standard, non-Raptor version of the Ford Ranger will be gaining a larger and more powerful 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine. This will reportedly replace the 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 petrol engine that’s optional on certain Ranger grades in the USA. A Ford Australia spokesperson has confirmed the core Ranger line-up will remain diesel-only in Australia, excluding the Ranger Hybrid and Ranger Raptor. The US-specification Ford Ranger is produced domestically, whereas the Australian-specification models are produced in Thailand. In the US this standard Ford Ranger with the 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine will be paired exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. This mirrors the Ranger Raptor. The exact power and torque figures haven’t been confirmed yet. It’s unclear whether they will remain unchanged from the Ranger Raptor, or if the engine will be detuned. For reference, the 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 engine produces 292kW and 583Nm in the Ranger Raptor. The standard 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is set to continue in the US, especially in the entry-level XLT trim. No turbo-diesel or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain is offered in the US, like it is in Australia. In the US the Ford Ranger receives a few other specification changes for the new model year. These include blue badging instead of black, updated alloy wheel options, revised front and rear fascias, new exterior paint colours, the availability of a power-sliding rear window and tweaks to the off-road-oriented FX4 package. It’s unclear whether any of these changes will inform future updates for Australian-specification Ranger. Some of the aesthetic changes may eventually come. The Ford Ranger has been Australia’s best-selling car for the last three consecutive years and it appears to be on track to achieve this again in 2026. A total of 37,858 have been sold until the end of September this year, which is narrowly ahead of the Toyota HiLux (36,616).

Nissan’s new local boss has outlined the direction the brand will take in the face of increasingly strict emissions regulations and changing market forces. Nissan’s Managing Director for Oceania Steve Milette says the first priority for new models won’t be to simply meet emissions targets, but to provide products that customers are asking for. The brand has just confirmed it will launch the (already expected) Nissan Navara Pro PHEV ute in 2027, there’s also a new-generation Nissan X-Trail on the way for 2027. The pressure is on for Nissan to sell more efficient cars to customers, too, as it reached the second-highest place for NVES (New Vehicle Emissions Standard) fines in 2025, an amount totalling $10,763,050. CarsGuide asked if there’s a path out of the NVES challenges facing the brand and if a refresh of the brand’s line-up is on the cards as part of that. “In terms of product introductions, yeah, yeah, for sure,” Milette told CarsGuide. “We have a pipeline, a robust pipeline.” “We can't talk about the details of those products, but all I can say is, it's going to be positive for us because the product resonates with the needs of Australians, and especially from a diversity of powertrain.  “Not just the vehicles themselves and the segments they play in, but the diversity of powertrains.” With the new X-Trail and the Navara Pro, Nissan isn’t confirming a move into any new (or previously served) segments, meaning passenger cars may still not be part of Nissan's plan. “There's some dominant segments: medium SUV, obviously. The utility market, the ute market, is huge. And traditionally, we've been, you know, we've been pretty strong at the SUV segments in general, like from smaller to to Patrol size,” Milette said. “And so I think for us, you can expect that we're going to be introducing products in the big segments that really are aligned with our history in terms of what we stand for, like very capable SUVs, very capable four by fours, innovative in terms of powertrains.  “That's where we're going.” This could point to the Nissan Terrano plug-in hybrid 4WD, and several electric and range-extender or plug-in hybrid SUVs from China, such as the NX7 and NX8. This would give Nissan an answer to the Denza B5 4WD and Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid. Nissan’s new addition to the X-Trail line-up, a more efficient front-wheel drive version of the e-Power hybrid system, could be considered a move in the right direction for its daunting NVES fines, but Milette says that wasn’t the primary reason for it. “Two-wheel-drive e-Power is a positive contributor to NVES, but its main purpose is to meet a need of the market,” Milette told CarsGuide. “I mean, 25 per cent of the sales in Australia so far this year are hybrid. Half of those are two-wheel drive, so we've only participated in half of that.  “So I think from a consumer preference, now we're in all of that segment.” “But from an NVES perspective, I think the north star is that as a brand we become self-sufficient… the portfolio that balances the negatives with the positives, if you will.” If Nissan sells more low-emission hybrids and electric cars, it will reduce the total amount of fines brought on by its ‘dirtier’ models like its Navara ute and its petrol SUVs. For reference, its second place ($10,763,050) in the 2025 list of brand fines saw it behind Mazda’s whopping $25,425,850 but well ahead of Subaru's $6,981,750. “But until we get there, we're well aware that we'll have to trade for credits, and there are published numbers. Like you saw, it was a public number in 2025.  “All I can say is that that's not the real cost.” Brands that find themselves with credits (likely through selling mostly EVs) rather than fines can agree to sell those credits to brands that have racked up fines, though Milette didn’t specify where those credits would come from. “For us, it's ‘what does the consumer want?’ We have a very powerful brand in Patrol as an example. If consumers want to buy Patrols, and they do, we're going to sell them Patrols. “No matter what the NVES impact there might be.”

Honda is preparing a Toyota HiLux hunter.  The brand is gearing up to launch a new ute in 2028, according to a report from Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.  It will take aim at the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux in a ute market that remains one of the highest-volume segments globally. It will mirror the Nissan Navara in using the Mitsubishi Triton as the basis for its mechanical DNA.  It could be the first model in an expanded collaboration between Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi.  There are limited details on the new Honda ute at this stage, as it's still under development, but it will reportedly be built in Thailand.  It will sport the same ladder-frame chassis as the Triton, so buyers can expect Honda’s ute to provide some rugged off-roading and adventuring potential.  The current Mitsubishi Triton uses a 2.4-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine, making 150kW and 470Nm.  Mitsubishi has plans to offer hybrid power in its future ladder-frame models and Honda's ute could benefit from this.  This comes as Honda too shifts its focus from fully electric cars to invest heavily in hybrid power from 2027. Mitsubishi’s Chief Product Specialist Itagaki Kunitoshi said in September 2026 the carmaker is developing hybrid set-ups for its future Pajero 4WD and Triton ute models. “Mitsubishi Motors is actively conducting research and development in electrified ladder-frame vehicles, including hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies for products such as Pajero and Triton in the future,” Kunitoshi said. Hybrid power could help Honda steer clear of fines under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). It’s too early to say whether the incoming Honda ute will go on sale in Australia, but it's becoming increasingly likely.  The ute will launch in South-East Asia in 2028, a region with many right-hand-drive markets. While a RHD build improves its chances of an Australian arrival, the local branch hasn't officially confirmed it will land in showrooms. A spokesperson for Honda Australia told CarsGuide in October 2026 there was nothing to confirm yet.  “While Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors are discussing various potential collaboration opportunities under the framework of our strategic partnership, there is nothing specific to share at this time,” they said.    Honda already sells a Ridgeline ute, but it is exclusively sold in North America. This means it’s built in left-hand drive, while it also uses a thirsty V6 engine that would incur fines under Australian emissions rules, essentially ruling it out Down Under.

At the 2026 Paris motor show Plenty of brands provided a preview of what’s to come for buyers . Some of the world’s biggest carmakers put their work on display from ultra-affordable EVs to retro reboots of past successes.  Here is some of the biggest news to come out of the show.  Smart has revealed a new compact EV called the #2.  Boasting a two-door and two-seat layout, it’s roughly 1200mm shorter than a BYD Atto 1 and slightly bigger than the original Smart ForTwo.  It has a 330km driving range, according to WLTP standards and can DC fast charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes.  BYD sub-brand Denza has unveiled its answer to big hitters like Ferrari and Lamborghini with its Z electric sports car.  A close rival to the Mercedes-Benz SL Class, the Z is BYD’s first full-on performance model.  It will use a three electric motor set-up, producing 880kW, with a 0-100km/h time of less than two seconds.  Another Chinese brand is destined for Aussie shores.  Ultra-luxury brand Avatr showed off its T09 large plug-in hybrid SUV concept for the first time. It is due to launch in Australia in 2028 or 2029.  Citroen’s electric 2CV successor has landed.  The compact EV is due for launch in 2028, at 3760mm long shaping up slightly shorter than its petrol predecessor but still boasting a roll-top fabric roof.  It’s expected to be offered from a very affordable price point in Europe, but we’re unlikely to see it Down Under.  Fiat has revealed a bold new concept called ‘multiplay’, which can transform between a people mover, SUV and ute.  Measuring 4450mm long, the car shares a similar footprint to the BYD Atto 3. It features a sliding rear roof and C-pillar to enable conversion from a three-row family car, to a ute or an SUV depending on its specific requirements.  Alfa Romeo has given its iconic V6 engine a hybrid twist. Its Cuorerosso concept uses a conventional hybrid set-up, comprising a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine as well as some electric motor assistance.  The Italian brand developed the concept to show off the future direction of its Quadrifoglio sedan.  Renault unveiled two futuristic EV concepts.  The E-Space concept is an electric reboot of the Espace van and people mover.  The E-Space is similarly sized to the current Espace van on sale, but uses a fully-electric set-up and features a standout sleek design.  The French brand also showed off its radical Renault 5 Turbo 3E that is a limited-run production EV version of the Renault 5 Turbo.  Its electric motor set-up produces 410kW, while riding on a fast-charging 800-volt platform.  Renault will only build 1980 examples of the car to pay homage to the original birth year of the Renault 5 Turbo.  Peugeot provided a look into its future.  The rally-inspired E-T16 concept is a nod to the 1980s 205 T16 Group B rally car, and its three electric motor set-up, makes around 600kW. Its aggressive styling and blacked out accents are said to be a showcase into future styling for Peugeot.  The RCZ Vision concept is an electric sports car based on the original 2+2 sports coupe.  It features plenty of cutting-edge technology, including a solid-state battery with 10 to 80 per cent fast charging in under 10 minutes.  The car’s electric motor set-up produces 373kW, while a curved ‘double bubble’ roof is a reflection of the original design. 

Isuzu says it will look to trade emissions credits with other manufacturers and attempt to share the extra cost between dealers, its local head office and its international HQ to keep selling the diesel D-Max and MU-X in Australia without jacking up prices. The brand is in a tough spot when it comes to the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) in Australia, with two models sharing diesel engines, and no form of electrification either here or coming in the immediate future. But it also says the segments it competes in – namely the ute and off-road SUV spaces – aren’t embracing electrification, even if it had powertrains to offer. That leaves it with little option but to buy credits from other lower-emitting manufacturers. Part of the government’s NVES policy is that manufacturers who exceed their fleet emission target end in credit, while those who miss theirs end with a deficit, but brands can trade to balance their ledgers. “The strategy is that we’ll do everything we can to make the impact as low as possible on the end user,”  says  Rod Caldwell, Executive General Manager - MD Office and Internal Audit Office. “If that means we need to buy credits, we're not saying that we won't do that. "If that means that it protects the consumer from any excessive price increases or whatever, but it gives them the lowest impact, then that's what we'll do. Some brands say they won't, we're saying that's an option we will seriously consider.” Caldwell says the brand would attempt to share any cost increases across the vehicle suppliers, rather than pass them onto the customer, though he concedes that might not be entirely possible. “We're trying to trim expenses at the same time, and we've got a number of parties involved in our process,” he says. “We've got the manufacturer, we've got our owner, we've got us. So we’ve all got a job to do to make sure that the customer doesn't have to wear the brunt of it.  “We want to minimise the impact. We will have to absorb some, the factory will have to absorb some. At the end of the day, the factory is the one responsible for the penalty, not us, but we've got to come to an arrangement on how we share this burden. “It's not going to be long term. We are going to have new technology in the future, for sure.”

Mitsubishi’s Triton ute looks set to spread its mechanical DNA further than the underpinnings of its Nissan Navara sibling. Reports out of Japan point to a Honda-badged, Thai-built version of the ladder frame workhorse planned for sale in multiple Southeast Asian markets and beyond from 2028. Nikkei Asia has reported increasing competition from Chinese challenger brands in Asia has forced Honda to review its largely stand-alone product policy, tapping into Mitsubishi’s body-on-frame ute expertise as a pragmatic short-cut response. Honda already has the Alabama-built Ridgeline dual cab pickup in its North American portfolio, but that petrol V6-powered monocoque mid-sizer lacks the load carrying and hauling capacity of a traditional ute with a tough leaf-spring rear end. The report references collaboration talks between Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissan, which have been ongoing since August 2024 and notes the Triton’s reputation for durability and off-road performance; in-demand attributes for hard-working trucks in ASEAN countries. Honda entered into numerous model share arrangements with Isuzu through the 1990s (Passport, Horizon, Jazz), but has mainly operated solo since then, so a potential ute collaboration with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance partners represents a telling shift in the Japanese maker’s new product development model. The report notes that until recently, Japanese brands collectively commanded around 90 per cent market share in Thailand and Indonesia, that figure shrinking to closer to 70 per cent currently as buyers embrace EV passenger and commercial options from the likes of BYD, Chery, Geely, XPeng, Zeekr and many others. More specifically, the report said Honda's combined year-on-year sales in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have fallen 20 per cent (to around 110,000 units) for the first eight months of 2026. And it’s worth noting the potential arrangement would improve Mitsubishi Motors factory efficiency in Thailand, where a reported collective capacity of approximately 386,000 units resulted in only 170,000 vehicles produced in 2025.  With multiple right-hand drive markets scattered throughout Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, the possibility of a Honda ute in Australia is significant and CarsGuide contacted Honda Australia for comment on the prospect of a local introduction. A spokesperson told us, “This is not an official announcement made by Honda or Mitsubishi Motors." "While Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors are discussing various potential collaboration opportunities under the framework of our strategic partnership, there is nothing specific to share at this time. "We will make an official announcement at an appropriate time,” they said.

The Farizon V7E joins a growing number of full-electric commercial vans on offer, but does it represent a compelling alternative to long established diesel rivals in Australia's popular mid-size van market?

Toyota is preparing for a record-breaking fourth quarter after a slow start to the year. Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said the Japanese carmaker will sell over 220,000 vehicles in 2026. Until the end of September, Toyota has sold a total of 152,944 vehicles, which is down 15.9 per cent year-on-year. In order to reach this target, Toyota has to sell over 67,000 vehicles before the end of 2026, or roughly 23,300 per month. The Japanese carmaker claims it’s on track to once again be the best-selling brand in Australia. This will make it the 31st consecutive year. For reference, the second- and third-best selling brands year-to-date are currently Ford (61,104) and Mazda (58,865). At the end of 2026, Toyota also claims it will have led the light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment for 48 unbroken years. The way that Toyota claims it will be able to deliver this record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales is thanks to increased vehicle supply across multiple in-demand model lines, including the HiLux, Prado, LandCruiser, RAV4 and bZ4X. In September Toyota sold a total of 4624 examples of the RAV4 mid-size SUV, which is up 81 per cent on the same month last year. Toyota has sold 31,209 RAV4 examples year-to-date, which is down 11.1 per cent year-on-year. Toyota sold 2006 Prado examples in September, which is its second-best monthly sales result for this model in over 12 months. A total of 15,665 year-to-date sales means it’s down 28.3 per cent year-on-year. With the introduction of the new bZ4X Touring trim, overall bZ4X sales year-to-date are up 331.8 per cent, year-on-year. A total of 2919 examples were sold until the end of September. While Toyota may be gearing up for a record-breaking fourth quarter of vehicle sales, it likely won’t be enough to top its overall yearly record. In 2024 Toyota sold a total of 241,296 vehicles and this is roughly 20,000 more than what it’s projecting for its 2026 sales. Pappas notes the reasons for this include slower monthly sales results for the RAV4 and HiLux. Thanks to increased supply, Toyota claims the average wait time for many of its models is now down from three-to-six months, to three months.

The Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is squeezing many carmakers locally and the latest culprit could soon be the best-seller. “Due to the challenging NVES targets for commercial vehicles from 2027 onwards, we cannot rule out price increases,” said Toyota Australia Vice President National Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas. This comes as many of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles in Australia are diesel-powered vehicles. Examples include the HiLux, LandCruiser Prado and the LandCruiser 70 Series, among others. In 2025 Toyota received NVES credits for going below its fleet CO2 target and the company claims it is on track to be in the green this year. However, its result in 2027 isn’t looking so certain. As it currently stands, there are two different NVES CO2 emission targets that reduce every calendar year. ‘Type 1’ vehicles are cars, SUVs or light off-road vehicles, whereas ‘Type 2’ vehicles are utes, vans or heavy off-road vehicles. For 2026 the CO2 emissions targets for Type 1 vehicles is 116g/km and for Type 2 vehicles is 180g/km. However, in 2027 this reduces to 92g/km and 150g/km, respectively. For reference, the current Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active diesel-powered dual-cab ute has a claimed combined CO2 emissions figure of 191g/km. This is already above the threshold for ‘Type 2’ vehicles in 2026. Toyota claims its sales of electrified vehicles, like electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), is growing, but in 2027 it still may not be enough for it to stay below the fleet CO2 emissions target. When a carmaker is above its fleet CO2 emissions target for the year, it is given fines that it can either pay directly, use credits from previous years, or purchase credits from other carmakers. Pappas’ quote indicates that the fines Toyota incurs will be passed onto the consumer. At this stage it’s unclear how much could be added to the asking price of Toyota vehicles. NVES fines are currently billed at $50 for every gram per kilometre over a model’s limit, per vehicle imported. Using the Toyota HiLux SR5 V-Active as an example, each imported vehicle is on track for a $550 fine in 2026. With over 36,000 HiLux examples sold until the end of August this year, the fines can add up very quickly. The fines can be cancelled through the import of vehicles under the CO2 targets. The brand receives NVES credits or a fine based on the overall fleet of imported vehicles for the respective year. Toyota is far from the first to admit it could increase vehicle pricing due to the tightening CO2 targets. Brands like Ford, Hyundai and Nissan have admitted to this previously. The NVES was implemented at the start of 2025 and there is an upcoming review that may spark further amendments. One change that is already being drafted is select vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) between 3500kg and 3855kg be included in the NVES from July 1, 2027. This means that the LandCruiser 70 Series may soon contribute to the brand’s CO2 fleet emissions for the NVES. It currently is exempt as it has a GVM of 3510kg. The Tundra is another vehicle that is potentially in the firing line as it has a GVM of 3536kg. Others include the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado, which both have a GVM of 3505kg. ‘Work vans’ and ‘work trucks’ will continue to be exempt from the NVES though under this draft amendment. “There’s an NVES review coming up and we’ll be contributing to that review through consultation,” said Pappas. “We fully support NVES. We fully support having an ambitious, albeit equitable and pragmatic NVES. “And when you look at the LCV segment, you can see that you’re going to be leaving customers behind because they need those vehicles. “We’ll be consulting government to be able to really look at a more pragmatic, realistic light commercial vehicle target under NVES that is more equitable to the Australian market.”

Chery has confirmed more details about its new Stockman diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute as pre-orders begin ahead of first deliveries in February 2027.