With a starting price of $68,490 before on-road costs, the all-new large off-road SUV – which is not only a belated successor for the fourth-generation Pajero discontinued in 2021, but also replaces the Pajero Sport axed in 2025 – is more expensive than all but one of its most direct competitors.

The Japanese-built Toyota Prado is still dearer with a starting price of $73,200 before on-road costs, but the new Pajero is significantly more expensive than the ute-based, Thai-made Isuzu MU-X (from $49,900 plus ORCs) and Ford Everest, Australia’s most popular large SUV priced from $58,990 plus ORCs.

While the new 3.0-litre diesel-powered GWM Tank 500 is also cheaper with a $65,990 drive-away starting price, the reborn Pajero is almost $17,000 pricier at base level than the old Pajero Sport (from $51,540), stock of which remains available in Australia, and $13,500 more expensive than the previous-generation Pajero GLX Final Edition last sold in 2021 at $54,990 plus ORCs.

Built in Thailand alongside the Triton on which it’s based, the first Pajero to be available for five years will share its body-on-frame construction and turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with the sixth-generation Triton ute launched in early 2024.

Indeed, the new Pajero – which Mitsubishi Australia says has already attracted more than 3000 pre-registrations – will be the first in two generations to be based on a ladder-frame chassis, after the third-generation model switched to a unibody (monocoque) design with an integrated ladder frame for increased torsional rigidity.

That has led some to suggest it’s more appropriately described as a replacement for the Pajero Sport – which was based on and built alongside the previous Triton in Thailand, much as the Ford Everest and the related Ranger are – rather than the fifth generation of a model that has always been produced in Japan, at least for Australia.

Mitsubishi says the ladder frame has been “significantly enhanced” to offer “the robust capability of traditional frame-based off-road vehicles with modern refinement levels, ensuring a quiet, comfortable occupant experience”.

It claims the new frame is “significantly stiffer” than the outgoing Pajero Sport’s and supported by long-travel suspension with wider tracks, high-response shock absorbers and stabiliser bars, and electric power steering.

Front suspension is via wishbones and coils and, like the Pajero Sport, the Pajero swaps out the Triton’s leaf-sprung rear suspension for a five-link ‘torque arm’ live rear axle with coil springs.

Compared to the Triton's ladder frame, the Pajero's heavily modified chassis has thicker side members, additional cross-bracing, and a wheelbase measuring 2870mm – 260mm shorter than that of Mitsubishi's ute.

There are rear disc brakes instead of drums, a slightly tighter turning circle, and a higher 'eye-point', to aid outward visibility, plus a redesigned front door structure and more upright A-pillars.

The result is an SUV that's roughly 100mm longer, wider, and taller than the old Pajero Sport, and maintains its seven-seat capacity across three rows.

Braked towing capacity is 3500kg, bettering the Pajero Sport by 400kg and the old Pajero by 500kg (and matching the Triton and its direct rivals), while Trailer Load Assist (TLA) is said to detect sway and actively adjust power and braking to each individual wheel to maximise stability while towing.

Mitsubishi lists a static roof-load capacity of 300kg (dynamic: 100kg), allowing fitment of popular accessories such as roof racks.

It also says that because Australia is “one of the key global Pajero markets”, its local accessories engineering team has been “deeply involved” in accessories design and development, and that a comprehensive outline of genuine accessories will be provided before launch.

While a hybrid powertrain has been confirmed for release by 2030, the new Pajero will arrive with a “new-generation” version of the Triton’s twin-turbocharged 2.4-litre 4N16 four-cylinder diesel engine, albeit with only a single turbocharger. It develops the same 150kW of power but has an extra 10Nm of torque at 480Nm.

These outputs eclipse those of both the single-turbo diesel Pajero Sport (133kW and 430Nm), and the Mk4 Pajero’s 3.2-litre DI-D diesel four (141kW/441Nm).

And in terms of its large off-road SUV competitors, the Everest is available with 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engines, the Prado comes with a 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, and the MU-X can be had with 120kW/400Nm 2.2-litre and 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder engines.

Claimed to deliver more refinement, drivability, response and efficiency, it now meets Euro 6d emissions standards – a first for a Mitsubishi engine – thanks to a water-cooled intercooler, dual-loop EGR system and the adoption of AdBlue, and an electric fan cooling system.

Fuel consumption figures are yet to be announced, but a fuel-saving automatic idle-stop system is claimed to improve efficiency in stop-start driving, while a “latest-generation variable-geometry turbocharger” is said to increase mid-range torque and response “right where the bulk of driving is conducted”.

While the Triton has a six-speed automatic transmission, the new Pajero adopts an “enhanced, lighter-weight” version of the old Pajero Sport’s eight-speed unit with a wider ratio spread “to support impressive response and reduced fuel use”.

All model variants will come standard with a low-range transfer case, rear differential lock, Mitsubishi’s tried-and-proven Super Select II switchable 4WD system with 2H (rear-wheel drive, high ratio), 4H (four-wheel drive, high ratio), 4HLc (4WD, high ratio, locked centre diff) and 4LLc (4WD, low range, locked centre diff) drivetrain settings, plus Super-All Wheel Control with Active Yaw Control and seven drive modes – Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock.

No vehicle dimensions have been announced for Australia, but fuel capacity is 80L and AdBlue capacity is 17L.

Three trim levels will be available from launch, each borrowing its name from the Pajero Sport (with the exception of GLX, leaving the door open to a cheaper variant later on), and each bringing an uptick in technology, safety and equipment compared to both the old Pajero and Pajero Sport, led by a digital recreation of the iconic triple analogue ‘Multi Meter’ instruments seen in previous generations of the Pajero.

The entry-level five-seat Pajero GLS is priced at $68,490 plus ORCs, with a third row of seats costing an extra $1500 and bringing the price to $69,990 plus ORCs, while both the mid-range Exceed ($79,990 plus ORCs) and sportier GSR flagship ($84,990 plus ORCs) come standard with seven seats.

A full list of standard equipment can be found in our 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero price and specs article.

Mitsubishi says the new Pajero was designed in Japan under the ‘Grand Charisma’ design theme, and “styled from the outset to showcase premium craftsmanship and superior quality befitting its status as Mitsubishi’s global flagship”, while its “spacious, flexible and luxurious cabin offers [a] commanding driving position with modern, clear interfaces for intuitive operation".

Key features of the exterior design, which was “inspired by the original Pajero’s solidity” but is “thoroughly modern while retaining a commanding presence of its own”, include a T-shaped lighting signature up front, a C-pillar aping the original Pajero’s ‘roll-bar’, a pronounced centre bonnet edge, and a Dynamic Flow Light for the GSR, which illuminates on entry/exit.

All exterior lighting is LED and, inside, the horizontal dashboard design aims to create a sense of width and a focus on Japanese craftsmanship and fine detail delivers “an opulent occupant experience”, accessed via a new proximity key fob.

Entry-level GLS grades come standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen adjoining a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, while Exceed and GSR variants upgrade to larger 14.3-inch units. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, along with Mitsubishi Connect providing a range of services including Automatic Collision Notification and Remote Climate Control.

The cabin features USB-C ports with up to 27W of charging capacity, a 15W wireless phone charger up front, and a meter display that harks back to the original Pajero with a specific off-road mode preset to display an altimeter, and inclinometers showing pitch and roll, with other functions including a compass, AYC status and world clock also available.

Mitsubishi claims class-leading headroom in a rally-inspired interior featuring seats with a wide range of adjustment (including powered lumbar as standard) and “exceptional” side bolstering to reduce fatigue.

The second row slides over a 150mm range to provide adjustable legroom and improved access to the third row, which offers “maximised head and shoulder room”, while cargo capacity behind the latter is listed at 519L (VDA), plus another 10L in a cargo box under the boot floor. A power tailgate is standard across the range.

While the base GLS gets waterproof black fabric seat trim, there’s leather upholstery featuring “intricate stitch-work with hand-stitching applied to the instrument panel and door trims” in the other two variants, with the GSR adding a large panoramic sunroof.

All variants score a heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, an electric park brake with brake auto-hold, proximity entry with push-button start, and rain-sensing wipers.

The Exceed adds heated and power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats and a refrigerated console box, and swaps the GLS' 18-inch alloy wheels for larger 20-inch alloys.

The range-topping GSR features black 20-inch alloy wheels and other black exterior accents. Additional standard equipment includes Adaptive Driving Beam for the LED headlights, plus a digital rear-view mirror, and ventilated front seats. There's also memory for the front seats, exterior mirrors, and steering wheel.

The Exceed and GSR also get a 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system with 11-channel Dual Amplifier and Digital Signal Processor, which compensates for vehicle speed, rain and even air-conditioning to deliver “a crystal-clear audio experience”.

All Pajeros will come standard with dual front and front-side airbags, plus a front centre airbag and a driver's knee airbag. There's also curtain airbag coverage for the first and second rows, plus the third row in seven-seater variants.

Standard active safety and driver assist technology includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, reverse AEB, blind-spot monitoring, child presence detection, driver attention monitoring, traffic sign recognition, tyre pressure monitoring, and front and rear cross-traffic alert.

There's also MiPilot, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist, plus Mitsubishi's Multi Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system with a see-through bonnet mode, and front and rear parking sensors.

Other safety technology includes an emergency call system and Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication (EAPM).

A range of solid, metallic and pearlescent exterior paints are available, in addition to two prestige colours debuting on the Pajero (Armour Copper and Phantom Blue), alongside Armour Copper and Black Diamond (Exceed and GSR only), while Phantom Blue can be had with all grades.

White is the only standard solid colour and optional paint prices are yet to be announced. Uniquely, the GSR features a black roof to create a two-tone look when paired with a non-black primary colour.

While the base GLS comes with black fabric seat trim with grey stitching, the Exceed gets black leather with beige stitching, and the GSR offers two-tone black and Camel leather with Camel stitching.

Service pricing is yet to be announced but, as with all Mitsubishi models in Australia, the Pajero will be backed by a conditional 10-year/200,000km warranty, 10-year capped-price servicing and 10-year roadside assistance plan. If you’re a commercial buyer or you don’t service with Mitsubishi, you receive the Japanese brand’s standard five-year/100,000km warranty.

Known as Montero in North America, Spain and Latin America, and the Shogun in the UK, the Mitsubishi Pajero generated more than 3.3 million sales globally over four generations and 40 years following its launch in 1981.

“For four generations, the Pajero has defined Mitsubishi. It has stood out for its capability, comfort and sheer dependability, showcasing the best Mitsubishi has to offer,” said MMAL CEO Shunichi Kihara.

“The All-New Pajero takes the Pajero backstory and modernises it. It maintains its flagship position in the global Mitsubishi hierarchy, combining Pajero’s core attributes and applying it in a way that defines modern ‘Mitsubishiness’.”

Pricing

MORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero price and specs: Revived large SUV lineup fully detailedMORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom

Built in Thailand alongside the Triton on which it’s based, the first Pajero to be available for five years will share its body-on-frame construction with the sixth-generation Triton ute launched in early 2024.

Mitsubishi says its new flagship SUV – which is not only a belated successor for the fourth-generation Pajero discontinued in 2021, but also replaces the Pajero Sport axed in 2025 – was designed in Japan under the ‘Grand Charisma’ design theme, and “styled from the outset to showcase premium craftsmanship and superior quality befitting its status as Mitsubishi’s global flagship”.

Key features of the exterior design, which was “inspired by the original Pajero’s solidity” but “thoroughly modern while retaining a commanding presence of its own”, include a T-shaped lighting signature up front, a C-pillar aping the original Pajero’s ‘roll-bar’, a pronounced centre bonnet edge, and a Dynamic Flow Light for the GSR, which illuminates on entry/exit.

All exterior lighting is LED.

Inside, the horizontal dashboard design aims to create a sense of width and a focus on Japanese craftsmanship and fine detail delivers “an opulent occupant experience”, while its “spacious, flexible and luxurious cabin offers [a] commanding driving position with modern, clear interfaces for intuitive operation".

Pricing

Available in three grades, the new Pajero is priced from $68,490 before on-road costs, making the all-new large off-road SUV more expensive than all but one of its most direct competitors.

The Japanese-built Toyota Prado is still dearer with a starting price of $73,200 before on-road costs, but the new Pajero is significantly more expensive than the ute-based, Thai-made Isuzu MU-X (from $49,900 plus ORCs) and Ford Everest, Australia’s most popular large SUV priced from $58,990 plus ORCs.

While the new 3.0-litre diesel-powered GWM Tank 500 is also cheaper with a $65,990 drive-away starting price, the reborn Pajero is almost $17,000 pricier at base level than the old Pajero Sport (from $51,540), stock of which remains available in Australia, and $13,500 more expensive than the previous-generation Pajero GLX Final Edition last sold in 2021 at $54,990 plus ORCs.

The entry-level five-seat Pajero GLS is priced at $68,490 plus ORCs, with a third row of seats costing an extra $1500 at $69,990 plus ORCs, while both the mid-range Exceed ($79,990 plus ORCs) and sportier GSR flagship ($84,990 plus ORCs) come standard with seven seats.

Drivetrains and Efficiency

While a hybrid powertrain has been confirmed for release by 2030, the new Pajero will arrive with a “new-generation” version of the Triton’s twin-turbocharged 2.4-litre 4N16 four-cylinder diesel engine, developing the same 150kW of power and an extra 10Nm of torque at 480Nm but using one fewer turbocharger.

That eclipses the outputs of both the single-turbo diesel Pajero Sport (133kW and 430Nm), and the Mk4 Pajero’s 3.2-litre DI-D diesel four (141kW/441Nm).

And in terms of its large off-road SUV competitors, the Everest is available with 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder and 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engines, the Prado comes with a 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, and the MU-X can be had with 120kW/400Nm 2.2-litre and 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder engines.

Claimed to deliver more refinement, drivability, response and efficiency, it now meets Euro 6d emissions standards – a first for a Mitsubishi engine – thanks to a water-cooled intercooler, dual-loop EGR system and the adoption of AdBlue, and an electric fan cooling system.

Fuel consumption figures are yet to be announced, but a fuel-saving automatic idle-stop system is claimed to improve efficiency in stop-start driving, while a “latest-generation variable-geometry turbocharger” is said to increase mid-range torque and response “right where the bulk of driving is conducted”.

While the Triton has a six-speed automatic transmission, the new Pajero adopts an “enhanced, lighter-weight” version of the old Pajero Sport’s eight-speed unit with a wider ratio spread “to support impressive response and reduced fuel use”. Fuel capacity is 80L and AdBlue capacity is 17L.

All model variants will come standard with a low-range transfer case, rear differential lock, Mitsubishi’s tried-and-proven Super Select II switchable 4WD system with 2H (rear-wheel drive, high ratio), 4H (four-wheel drive, high ratio), 4HLc (4WD, high ratio, locked centre diff) and 4LLc (4WD, low range, locked centre diff) drivetrain settings, plus Super-All Wheel Control with Active Yaw Control and seven drive modes – Normal, Eco, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Rock.

Dimensions

The new Pajero will be the first in two generations to be based on a ladder-frame chassis, after the third-generation model switched to a unibody (monocoque) design with an integrated ladder frame for increased torsional rigidity.

That makes it more appropriately described as a replacement for the Pajero Sport – which was based on and built alongside the previous Triton in Thailand, much as the Ford Everest and the related Ranger are – rather than the fifth generation of a model that has always been produced in Japan, at least for Australia.

Mitsubishi says the Triton's ladder frame has been “significantly enhanced” to offer “the robust capability of traditional frame-based off-road vehicles with modern refinement levels, ensuring a quiet, comfortable occupant experience”.

It claims the new frame is “significantly stiffer” than the outgoing Pajero Sport’s and supported by long-travel suspension with wider tracks, high-response shock absorbers and stabiliser bars, and electric power steering.

Front suspension is via double wishbones and coils and, like the Pajero Sport, the Pajero swaps out the Triton’s leaf-sprung rear suspension for a five-link ‘torque arm’ live rear axle with coil springs.

The Japanese brand says the front and rear of the chassis have been developed exclusively for the Pajero, adopting a double-wishbone front suspension setup for greater lateral rigidity, and a five-link rigid rear-end with coil springs instead of the Triton's leaf springs to balance off-road capability and ride comfort.

Other changes over the Triton include rear disc brakes instead of drums, a slightly tighter turning circle, and a higher 'eye-point', to aid outward visibility, plus a redesigned front door structure and more upright A-pillars.

The new Pajero is roughly 100mm longer, wider, and taller than the old Pajero Sport, and at 4.92 metres long is 70mm shorter than the Prado.

Its heavily modified Triton-based ladder frame has thicker side members, additional cross-bracing, and a wheelbase measuring 2870mm – 260mm shorter than that of Mitsubishi's ute.

Inside, Mitsubishi claims class-leading headroom in a rally-inspired interior featuring seats with a wide range of adjustment (including powered lumbar as standard) and “exceptional” side bolstering to reduce fatigue.

The second row slides over a 150mm range to provide adjustable legroom and improved access to the third row, which offers “maximised head and shoulder room” while cargo capacity behind the latter is listed at 519L (VDA), plus another 10L in a cargo box under the boot floor.

Braked towing capacity is 3500kg, bettering the Pajero Sport by 400kg and the old Pajero by 500kg (and matching the Triton and its direct rivals), while Trailer Load Assist (TLA) is said to detect sway and actively adjust power and braking to each individual wheel to maximise stability while towing.

Mitsubishi lists a static roof-load capacity of 300kg (dynamic: 100kg), allowing fitment of popular accessories such as roof racks.

Servicing and Warranty

Service pricing is yet to be announced but, as with all Mitsubishi models in Australia, the Pajero will be backed by a conditional 10-year/200,000km warranty, 10-year capped-price servicing and 10-year roadside assistance plan.

If you’re a commercial buyer or you don’t service with Mitsubishi, you receive the Japanese brand’s standard five-year/100,000km warranty.

Safety

The new Pajero takes a significant step up in terms of safety equipment and advanced driver aids, ticking almost every box as standard across the range.

Key range-wide safety features will include:

• Driver and front passenger front and side airbags
• Front centre airbag
• Driver's knee airbag
• Curtain airbags for 1st and 2nd row
• Curtain airbags for 3^rd row (7 seats only)
• 2nd and 3rd row seatback child restraint anchors, plus ISOFIX
• MiPilot: Adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist
• Leading vehicle departure alert
• Traffic sign recognition
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• • Pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Rear AEB
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Child presence detection
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front and rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-keep assist
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Multi Around View Monitor (surround-view camera)
• Bonnet see-through camera
• Automatic Post-Collision Braking system (APCB)
• Emergency Call System (E-call)
• Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication (EAPM)
• Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISL)
• Minimum Risk Manoeuvre (MRM)
• Active Yaw Control (AYC)
• Brake Override System (BOS)
• Trailer Stability Assist (TSA)

Standard Equipment

Three trim levels will be available from launch, each borrowing their names from the Pajero Sport (with the exception of GLX, leaving the door open to a cheaper variant later on), and each bringing an uptick in technology, safety and equipment compared to both the old Pajero and Pajero Sport, led by a digital recreation of the iconic triple analogue ‘Multi Meter’ instruments seen in previous generations of the Pajero.

Entry-level GLS grades come standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen adjoining a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, while Exceed and GSR variants upgrade to larger 14.3-inch units. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, along with Mitsubishi Connect providing a range of services including Automatic Collision Notification and Remote Climate Control.

The cabin features USB-C ports with up to 27W of charging capacity, a 15W wireless phone charger up front, and a meter display that harks back to the original Pajero with a specific off-road mode preset to display an altimeter, and inclinometers showing pitch and roll, with other functions including a compass, AYC status and world clock also available.

Other standard multimedia highlights include a standard Multi Around View Monitor, an advanced ‘Bonnet see-through’ camera that digitally aids vehicle placement and, for the Exceed and GSR, a 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate audio system with 11-channel Dual Amplifier and Digital Signal Processor, which compensates for vehicle speed, rain and even air-conditioning to deliver “a crystal-clear audio experience”.

While the base GLS gets waterproof black fabric seat trim, there’s leather upholstery featuring “intricate stitchwork with hand-stitching applied to the instrument panel and door trims” in the other two variants, with the GSR adding a large panoramic sunroof.

All variants score a heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, an electric park brake with brake auto-hold, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Standard equipment for the Pajero GLS includes:

• 5 or 7 seats
• 18x8.0-inch dark grey alloy wheels
• 255/65R18 111H (Mud and Snow) tyres
• Body-colour door mirrors and door handles
• Body-colour rear spoiler
• Grey side steps
• Black roof rails
• Black wheel-arch mouldings
• Steel engine front undercover
• Automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• LED front and rear fog lights
• LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
• LED side turn lamps on door mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Waterproof black fabric seat trim
• Manual driver and front passenger seat adjustment (slide, recline, height)
• Electric seat lumbar support adjustment (driver and front passenger)
• Carpet floor
• Upper glovebox with lid
• Console box with lid
• Front console with 2 cupholders
• Front 12V socket and rear 220V AC power outlet
• Cargo 12V socket
• Driver and front passenger dash-mounted cupholder
• Driver and front passenger door pocket with bottle holder
• Driver and front passenger seatback pockets with phone storage
• Driver and front passenger seatback utility socket
• Driver and front passenger sun visor with illumination and ticket holder
• LED front map, room and cargo lamps
• 2nd row centre armrest with 2 cupholders
• 2nd row door pockets with bottle holders
• 2nd row seats 60:40 split with manual fold and tumble function
• 2nd row seats with recline and sliding function
• 3rd row seats with 2 cupholders and manual 50:50 split function (7-seat only)
• Heated steering wheel
• Steering wheel paddle shifters
• Electric park brake with brake auto-hold function
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Power tailgate
• Privacy glass
• Front dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
• Rear automatic air-conditioning system
• Wireless phone charger
• Front USB-C ports: 2
• Rear USB-C ports: 2
• 3rd row USB-C power: 2 (7-seat only)
• Mitsubishi Connect
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 6-speaker sound system
• Shark-fin antenna
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth connectivity with voice and steering wheel controls

Over the GLS, the Exceed adds:

• 7 seats
• 20x8.0-inch machined alloy wheels
• 255/55R20 107V (M and S) tyres
• Black leather seat trim
• Power-adjustable front seats
• Front and rear seat heating
• 14.3-inch full digital instrument display
• 14.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 12-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate system, incl. amplifier and subwoofer
• 2nd row pull-up sunshades
• Refrigerated console box

Over the Exceed, the GSR adds:

• 20x8.0-inch black alloy wheels
• Adaptive Driving Beam system (ADB)
• Front grille LED lamp
• Front and rear lamp animation pattern
• Dark front and rear bumpers
• Dark grey side steps
• Black door mirrors
• Black wheel-arch mouldings
• Black panoramic roof with sunroof
• Two-tone camel and black leather seat trim
• Front seat ventilation function
• Front seat adjustment memory function
• Steering wheel and door mirrors adjustment memory function
• Panoramic front sun visors with LED lamps
• Black headlining
• Illuminated front scuff plates
• Digital rear-view mirror
• Air-conditioner with nanoe X air purifier

Options

Mitsubishi says that because Australia is “one of the key global Pajero markets”, its local accessories engineering team has been “deeply involved” in accessories design and development, and that a comprehensive outline of genuine accessories will be provided before launch.

Colours

A range of solid, metallic and pearlescent exterior paints are available, in addition to two prestige colours debuting on the Pajero (Armour Copper and Phantom Blue), alongside Black Diamond. Armour Copper and Black Diamond are exclusive to the Exceed and GSR, while Phantom Blue can be had with all grades.

White is the only standard solid colour and optional paint prices are yet to be announced. Uniquely, the GSR features a black roof to create a two-tone look when paired with a non-black primary colour.

While the base GLS comes with black fabric seat trim with grey stitching, the Exceed gets black leather with beige stitching, and the GSR offers two-tone black and Camel leather with Camel stitching.

MORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero revealed: Off-road icon reborn as ute-based SUVMORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero – Everything we know about the new flagship off-road SUVMORE: Mitsubishi Triton, Pajero hybrid confirmed as part of major Thai investment – reportMORE: Mitsubishi Pajero lineup to expand with RAV4-sized SUV, Suzuki Jimny rival – reportMORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom

A total of 108,760 new vehicles were delivered in Australia in August 2026, up 4.9 per cent on the same month last year, according to VFACTS data published by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and seen by CarExpert, plus Tesla and Polestar sales data made freely available by the Electric Vehicle Council.

A total of 27,078 of the new vehicles delivered in August were EVs, up 169.4 per cent year-over- year (YoY), which means for the first time this powertrain type has outsold all other types of propulsion.

Unusually, the FCAI's press release lists a different total EV sales figure of 27,089.

EVs accounted for almost one quarter of the overall new-vehicle market, at 24.9 per cent – a record level of market share for this powertrain type.

For context, a total of 25,824 deliveries were of petrol-powered vehicles, followed by 23,608 diesels, 18,662 hybrids and 10,591 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

After decades of supplying sales data for every model sold by brands that report to it, the FCAI has supplied parties with an incomplete VFACTS report that lists only the top 25 best-selling vehicles. 

The list is below, and expanded to include Tesla sales data from the Electric Vehicle Council.

Brands

Toyota was on top as usual, while BYD was again in second position for the fifth month in a row. Tesla vaulted to third position thanks to a 162.6 per cent YoY increase.

Kia was in fourth position, ahead of Mazda, Hyundai, GWM, Ford and MG. The 10th best-selling brand wasn't Chery but rather another Chinese brand, Geely.

Every Chinese brand in the top 10, plus Tesla, was up YoY; every other brand, in contrast, was down.

While Chery narrowly missed out on a top 10 spot, it sat in 11th with a significant gap between it and Isuzu Ute in 12th place. The Japanese brand managed to outsell Mitsubishi, long a top 10 fixture, despite having only two models in its showrooms.

Some brands still don't report to the FCAI or EVC, including Cadillac, Mahindra and Smart.

Note Alfa Romeo Junior and Jeep Avenger sales are inexplicably counted not under their respective brands, but under a separate Stellantis entry in VFACTS. Without full model-level data, we can't calculate the exact percentage increase or decrease in YoY sales for Alfa Romeo and Jeep.

Sales by category

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Top segments

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Sales by region

Excludes Tesla and Polestar sales.

Sales by buyer type

Excludes Tesla, Polestar and heavy commercial sales.

Sales by fuel or propulsion type

Excludes heavy commercial sales.

Sales by country of origin

Includes Tesla and Polestar sales.

You can access our coverage of previous months below:

• July 2026
• June 2026
• May 2026
• April 2026
• March 2026
• February 2026
• January 2026

“Due to a manufacturing defect, vehicles may be fitted with cargo barriers that have the middle seatbelt bracket installed in an incorrect orientation. As a result, the middle seatbelt may not operate as intended, when in use,” the recall notice said.

“The middle rear seatbelt may not function as intended in the event of a collision due to the incorrect orientation of the middle seat belt bracket. If the seatbelt does not operate correctly, it may increase the risk of serious injury or death to the vehicle occupant.”

• A total of 27 vehicles are affected, produced in 2025
• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list is attached here
• The original recall notice is attached here

Subaru Australia will contact affected owners in writing and ask them to book an appointment with an authorised dealer to have the fault rectified, free of charge.

Owners can contact Subaru Australia on 1800 226 643 or at feedback@subaru.com.au.

This is the first recall for the new, seventh-generation Outback.

The previous-generation Outback was recalled in November 2023 alongside certain Forester and Crosstrek models over a potential front driveshaft fault.

On the same day, a separate recall covered 2610 Outbacks manufactured in 2021 and 2022 over a poorly sealed CVT inhibitor switch that could disable the reversing lights and rear-view camera. The seventh-generation Outback was launched in Australia earlier this year with boxier styling and a five-grade lineup priced from $48,990 before on-road costs. It also introduced the off-road-focused Wilderness grade to Australia.

MORE: Explore the Subaru Outback showroom

The Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 have been awarded five-star ratings by ANCAP, based on testing conducted by sister authority Euro NCAP against new, stricter 2026 test protocols.

They're the second and third vehicles to be tested under these new protocols, following the more expensive BMW iX3 earlier this year which also received a five-star rating.

“These results show that choosing a more affordable electric vehicle doesn’t have to mean compromising on safety,” said ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg in a release.

“The Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 have got the fundamentals right, delivering good crash protection, effective crash avoidance technology and important safety features as standard.”

Both vehicles were nevertheless criticised for making drivers rely too heavily on the touchscreen to control vehicle functions.

The Leapmotor B05, a small rear-wheel drive electric hatchback, scored 66 per cent for Safe Driving, 77 per cent for Crash Avoidance, 92 per cent for Crash Protection, and 89 per cent for Post Crash. 

ANCAP gave the model credit for its performance in full-width frontal crash tests in particular, adding that it received maximum scores for adult and child occupants in side-impact testing and that it has a "well-designed vehicle structure".

It also praised the performance of its autonomous emergency braking, particularly its ability to handle pedestrians and scenarios where a driver is turning across the path of another vehicle.

Also coming in for praise were the Leapmotor's lane departure collision prevention systems, and the brand's planned rollout of an eCall system by September 2027, which will automatically notify emergency responders of a crash.

The slightly smaller Geely EX2, another rear-wheel drive electric hatch, received a Safe Driving score of 79 per cent, a Crash Avoidance score of 72 per cent, a Crash Protection score of 86 per cent, and a Post Crash score of 95 per cent.

In its report, ANCAP credited the EX2 for the performance of its lane support systems, as well as an occupant monitoring system which can recognise incorrect seatbelt use and an adaptive cruise control system that "performed well in detecting and responding to other vehicles, motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists".

ANCAP also praised Geely for its plans to roll out eCall functionality within 12 months.

Every Geely model on sale in Australia currently has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, as does every electric Leapmotor model.

The EX2 and B05 are the latest affordable Chinese electric cars to receive a five-star safety rating, following BYD's Atto 1 – Australia's cheapest EV – and the MG 4 EV Urban, all of which were tested under the previous 2023-25 test protocols.

MORE: 2026 ANCAP safety protocols are here: What you need to knowMORE: Explore the Geely EX2 showroomMORE: Explore the Leapmotor B05 showroom

The updates are led by a new 67kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, larger than the 60kWh pack in the current entry-level Scenic E-Tech Techno, which was launched here earlier this year with a price tag of $55,990 before on-road costs and a 125kW/280Nm electric motor.

The bigger battery is mated with a 160kW/300Nm electric motor and improves range from the current 125kW Techno’s 430km WLTP to 467km, one kilometre more than the entry-level Tesla Model Y RWD’s official Australian figure.

Global availability of the new battery is yet to be confirmed, with Renault not specifically saying whether it will completely replace the current 60kWh pack and if the less powerful entry-level electric motor will be axed.

Renault Australia has yet to confirm any changes for the local lineup, with the updates due to roll out in France over the next three months, from September to November 2026.

Based on previous model rollouts, it’s expected the updates may reach Australian models sometime in mid-to-late 2027, although timing hasn't been announced.

Additionally, the mid-spec Techno Long Range gets a new 89kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, up from 87kWh, extending its WLTP range from 625km to 642km on a single charge.

Renault said the new Techno Long Range battery cuts DC fast-charging times by 25 per cent, with a 15-80 per cent top-up taking 28 minutes – around 10 minutes quicker than the current version.

Both new batteries are paired with a 160kW/300Nm electric motor. This represents increases of 35kW and 20Nm for the 67kWh model over the current entry-level Techno, while output is unchanged for the 89kWh Long Range.

The Esprit Alpine is currently listed with the same 87kWh battery as the Long Range and has an identical 625km WLTP range, suggesting it may also receive the larger 89kWh battery.

Renault also says it has recalibrated the adaptive cruise control with a new ‘multi-target’ feature designed to better detect vehicles merging ahead, for example, and respond more smoothly.

Emergency Stop Assist has also been added, slowing the vehicle to a complete stop if the driver doesn't respond.

The Active Driver Assist display has been upgraded with a more realistic view, while the temporary lateral positioning function is now more responsive and works at speeds of up to 70km/h, up from 50km/h.

Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant has been introduced through the Google Built-in system, while cabin tweaks include new seat fabric made with more than 95 per cent recycled PET yarn, teamed with textured coated fabric containing at least 12 per cent recycled material on the Techno model grade.

The Techno also gains a carbon-black (instead of grey) dashboard, with a textured coated fabric section carrying a ‘lightning bolt’ topstitching motif, while the Esprit Alpine gains new interior trim with a ‘spectral titanium’ effect.

Two new exterior paint finishes, satin blue slate and exo galaxy grey, have also been introduced.

In addition to the Scenic E-Tech, Renault Australia has also launched the Symbioz small SUV this year, as well as an updated Trafic commercial van and new-generation Master van and cab/chassis range.

MORE: Explore the Renault Scenic E-Tech showroom

John Ternus formally became Apple’s chief executive on September 1, 2026, replacing Tim Cook after 15 years in the top job.

Mr Cook has stepped down as CEO, but he hasn't left Apple. He's moved into the role of executive chairman and will continue assisting with certain parts of the business, including Apple’s engagement with policymakers around the world. Mr Ternus has also joined the company’s board of directors.

“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor,” Mr Cook said when announcing the succession plan.

Mr Ternus isn't an outsider brought in to shake Apple up. He joined its product design team in 2001, became vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2013 and joined the executive leadership team as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering in 2021.

Apple credits him with playing an instrumental role in the introduction of the iPad and AirPods, as well as overseeing hardware engineering across multiple generations of the iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch.

Before Apple, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. In other words, Apple’s new CEO is very much an engineer rather than simply a finance or operations executive.

More relevant to us, however, is what John Ternus does when he's not signing off the next iPhone.

At the Miami Grand Prix in May, Apple services boss Eddy Cue told Reuters: “John actually drives a Porsche and does amateur racing.”

Mr Cue said Mr Ternus would otherwise have attended the Formula 1 race but was at Laguna Seca instead. He described the incoming CEO as a major F1 fan and said his appointment would strengthen Apple’s relationship with the championship.

That relationship is already substantial. Apple TV became the exclusive US broadcaster of Formula 1 this year, taking over from ESPN and showing all 24 rounds of the 2026 season. We remain hopeful that will also happen in Australia so we can stop waiting for Kayo to load!

According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr Ternus regularly takes his Porsche to Laguna Seca and has recorded lap times of less than one minute and 40 seconds, which is pretty decent!

Mr Ternus is understood to own one of Porsche’s modern 935 track cars and is a regular participant in Laguna Seca track days. Porsche produced just 77 examples of the modern 935, which is based on the 911 GT2 RS and powered by a 515kW 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six.

It weighs approximately 1380kg and is officially described as a single-seat, non-homologated race car.

Apple and Porsche’s modern relationship goes well beyond a retro racing livery. In 2019, the original Taycan became the first vehicle with fully integrated Apple Music, rather than simply accessing it through conventional Apple CarPlay.

Porsche then became the first automaker to integrate vehicle functions within an application in CarPlay in 2023. Depending on the vehicle, owners could use the My Porsche application to adjust audio profiles, radio stations, climate control and ambient lighting without leaving the CarPlay interface.

The two companies also developed a Porsche Race Engineer application for Apple Vision Pro. It allowed engineers to monitor information including speed, braking, track conditions, vehicle position and live video in real time.

Porsche used the system in 2024 when the Taycan Turbo GT established a US electric vehicle (EV) record at Laguna Seca.

If you're wondering if putting a Porsche-loving engineer in charge of Apple means the Apple Car is suddenly coming back, the answer is most probably no, at least not based on any verified information.

Apple reportedly cancelled its decade-long electric and autonomous vehicle development effort, internally known as Project Titan, in February 2024. Some employees were moved to Apple’s artificial intelligence division, although Apple itself declined to comment publicly on the decision. Project Titan is reportedly what found itself reborn as the Ferrari Luce.

Mr Cook’s departure from the CEO role nevertheless marks one of the most significant leadership changes in the technology industry. Apple says its market capitalisation grew from approximately US$350 billion when Mr Cook became CEO in 2011 to US$4 trillion, while annual revenue increased from US$108 billion to more than US$416 billion in the 2025 financial year.

During his tenure, the active installed base of Apple devices grew to more than 2.5 billion, and the company introduced products and services including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Pay, Apple Music and Apple TV.

For a company partly funded by the sale of a Volkswagen and connected with Porsche motorsport almost from the beginning, putting a Porsche-driving mechanical engineer in the top job is perhaps not as strange as it first sounds.

MORE: Fully autonomous driving is dead: the Apple Car story

WirtschaftsWoche has read a 147-page report prepared at the behest of Volkswagen's management team for an upcoming meeting of the supervisory board. Half of the supervisory board's members are made up of workers' representatives.

The report claims "the existing business models and structures are no longer sufficient to ensure the long-term competitiveness and profitability of the Volkswagen Group", and that comprehensive restructuring is required to stabilise the automaker's "credit rating, and the associated capital and refinancing costs".

A core part of the company's transformation includes closing four plants, with Emden and Zwickau earmarked to cease vehicle production in 2031, Hanover slated to close in 2032, and Audi's Neckarsulm factory to shut in 2034.

Under an earlier agreement with its unions, the Volkswagen Group agreed it wouldn't close any German plants before the end of the decade.

Zwickau currently produces a clutch of electric vehicles – the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 (soon to be replaced by the ID. Tiguan), ID.5, Cupra Born, and Audi Q4 e-tron – all of which use the MEB platform.

According to the German business publication, the next-generation ID. Tiguan will be moved to Skoda's Mladá Boleslav factory in Czechia, and the Audi Q4 e-tron will be relocated to Volkswagen's factory in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The ID. Buzz and 'T7' Multivan are made at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles plant in Hanover. Once it's shut, production of the 'T8' people mover range will commence in Poznań, Poland.

Audi's factory in Neckarsulm is responsible for two core models, the A5 and A6, as well as the soon-to-be-retired A8. When the plant is mothballed, the A8's successor will be moved to Porsche's plant in Leipzig.

Emden currently makes the ID.4 and ID.7, and it's unknown what, if anything, will happen with the latter.

Union leaders and politicians have reacted with dismay to the article series being run by WirtschaftsWoche detailing the Volkswagen report.

Mario Albert, chairman of the works council at the Zwickau factory, told the business publication: "We will fight together for the future of our locations. It's clear that the board of directors is still committed to potential plant closures, but it's equally clear that they won't be making that decision alone."

Carsten Michaelis, Zwickau district administrator, said the report hit the "entire region with full force" and its contents seemed to contradict the impression Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume gave last week when he visited the area.

Michael Kretschmer, Saxony's minister-president, called the report "very distressing", but also made an appeal for calm, noting Volkswagen's supervisory board won't be making any decisions on this matter when it meets on Friday and that the Zwickau plant is the company's "most efficient".

MORE: Explore the Volkswagen showroom

As it turns out, this isn’t a crackpipe-fuelled flight of fantasy, as the Bolognese marque is now putting the finishing touches on an electrifying new Revuelto spearhead that reprises the ‘Super Veloce’ moniker that first appeared 55 years ago on the Miura SV.

Lamborghini’s boffins have left no stone unturned to eke out incremental gains in every dynamic facet, with the Revuelto SV’s powertrain, chassis and aero all being fettled with the aim of not only sharpening lap times but also heightening driver engagement.

Lamborghini has coined the catchphrase “quantum of driving” to define the Revuelto SV, and what this is meant to convey is a nirvana-like state in which the experience of piloting the car is so immersive that any thoughts other than focusing on the next braking point or corner entry recede into oblivion. 

It sounds like pure marketing-speak, but there’s substance to the claim, as I’m about to discover...

How much does the Lamborghini Revuelto cost?

In a nod to the brand’s founding year as an automaker, only 1963 examples of the Revuelto SV will be produced globally and, while no set number has been allocated to specific markets, the order book for Australian buyers will likely open in early 2027.

While local pricing is yet to be confirmed, we’d expect it to command a 15-20 per cent premium over the standard model.

Given the base Revuelto starts at $987,000 before on-road costs, we’d suggest the SV will start somewhere between $1.15 and $1.2 million (plus ORCs). And the price will rapidly inflate from there if you go berserk with personalisation options via the Ad Personam program.

Its telephone-digit price tag will put the Revuelto SV in a rarefied domain as the only competitors even vaguely within the same bracket are the Ferrari 849 Testarossa (from $932,648 plus ORCs) and the limited-edition McLaren 788HS (from $1,078,800 plus ORCs). Each of these hypercars is rocket-ship fast and dripping with wow factor, but neither the McLaren nor Ferrari has a powerplant that can match the spine-tingling sonic signature of the Lambo’s titanic 6.5-litre V12.

Of course, Ferrari also offers the 12Cilindri, but the prancing horse’s V12 offering is more of a grand tourer than an extreme supercar.

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Lamborghini Revuelto like on the inside?

The interior of the Lamborghini Revuelto SV takes the marque’s ‘feel-like-a-pilot’ philosophy to a new level via a bespoke motorsport-inspired steering wheel, ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre door panels, and specially developed racing seats.

As standard, the Revuelto SV features Sport Seats with a carbon shell structure. These pews combine the visual character of a racing seat but with greater daily practicality and ample adjustment possibilities.

In the prototype we drove at Nardo, it’s immediately apparent that these are far more comfortable than the seats in the standard car – the position behind the wheel is better, and there’s improved support for the lower lumbar region. 

There’s plenty of carbon-fibre trim throughout the cabin, helping save weight and creating an ambience that feels suitably racy and special – as befits a low-volume hypercar. 

The SV’s minimalist interior harmonises with Revuelto SV-specific graphics and animations in the UX design. As soon as the door opens, an emotive animation of the Revuelto SV on the display welcomes the occupants. 

Exclusively, the Revuelto SV features the new Pilota Mode drive selector in red on the right side of the steering wheel, which can be used to activate different levels of traction control settings.

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What's under the bonnet?

The immense 6.5-litre V12 is the crown jewel of the Revuelto, and model line director Alessandro Farmeschi refers to the powerplant as a “monument”.

He concedes a lighter and more compact twin-turbo V8 could deliver just as much grunt while being easier to package (as capably illustrated by the Temerario), but there’s no way it could replicate the V12’s sheer charisma and intoxicating banshee-like soundtrack.

The 825hp (607kW) combustion engine remains unchanged in the Revuelto SV, but Lamborghini has amped up the hybrid component of the powertrain, with a key element being the bigger new 7.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is a notable step up from the 3.8kWh battery used in the standard Revuelto.

The larger battery pack powers the electric motor that supplements the V12 in sending drive to the rear axle, as well as the two e-motors up front, to eke out 190 electrified kiloWatts.

This boosts the total output to an impressive 1065hp (783kW) – a power increase of 50hp (37kW) over the garden-variety Revuelto. More tellingly, peak torque is boosted to a stump-pulling 1425Nm, a massive increment over the standard model’s 1200Nm.

Lamborghini claims the newly developed battery system ensures up to four times greater performance consistency compared to the standard Revuelto, delivering sustained output and repeatability even under extreme track conditions. 

The combo of a screaming, high-revving non-turbo V12 and hybrid assist spears the Revuelto SV from 0-100km/h in a claimed 2.4 seconds, while 0-200km/h is dispatched in just 6.7 seconds on the way to a top speed exceeding 345km/h. 

The V12’s spent gases exit through a high-performance exhaust system – specifically tuned to the SV’s powertrain – featuring two hexagonal tailpipes in matte grey. The tailpipes are also available as an option in matte black and a classy matte bronze. 

The Revuelto SV’s suspension also represents a major revision from the base car’s semi-active magnetorheological-damper configuration, as it rides on passively adjustable dampers derived from Lamborghini’s GT race program. 

With four adjustment valves per damper, each with 13 settings (selectable by jacking the car up and removing the wheels), this setup enables the perfect calibration to be achieved for any track – be it flat, bumpy or wet. It also enables the car to be configured precisely to suit different driving styles.

Also unique to the Revuelto SV is a new CCM-R-Plus brake system that elevates stopping power to almost race car levels. With massive 420x40mm rotors at the front and 410x32mm discs at the rear, the bespoke braking system surpasses the efficacy of the standard Revuelto’s already high-performance CCB-Plus discs. 

One of the Revuelto SV’s biggest dynamic breakthroughs comes via a 6D sensor that’s coupled with the car’s vehicle dynamic control logic to mastermind all the electronic chassis-control systems. Although less than palm-sized and innocuous to look at, the 6D sensor is Einstein-esque in its brain power.

Installed strategically close to the vehicle’s centre of gravity, the 6D sensor’s function is to provide measurements of the acceleration on all three axes (lateral, longitudinal and vertical) in real time, as well as the angular velocity also for all three axes (pitch, roll and yaw). 

This enables the ‘Integrated Vehicle Estimator’ to predictively control the vehicle’s dynamics, which means any interventions by the stability-control and ABS are so instant and miniscule that you barely perceive them from behind the wheel. The impression you get in the driver’s seat is that it’s you who has godly skills as a pilot (even though this may be far from the truth).

Super-sticky rubber is also part of the Revuelto SV recipe, with the all-new Bridgestone Potenza Race R semi-slick (essentially a counterpart to Michelin’s Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres) optionally available alongside high-performance Potenza Sport tyres, as well as the winter-focused Blizzak LM005. 

Be warned, though, the Race R rubber wears at an alarming rate, especially on an abrasive circuit like the Nardo Handling Track.

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Lamborghini Revuelto drive?

A handful of laps around the gnarly Nardo Handling Track aren’t much to go on, but this is all we get to glean whether the SV delivers meaningful real-world gains over the already stellar Revuelto in terms of both pace and feel-good factor.

Handily, Lamborghini’s events team has brought along a standard Revuelto for benchmarking, and a brief on-track stint in it provides a refresher of how eye-wateringly fast and visceral even the base model is. 

Grip levels are stupefying, the car’s overall balance is superb, and the V12 and supplementary electric motors provide intergalactic levels of thrust out of slow corners.

Stepping out of the low-slung Revuelto, one wonders how the package could be improved in any meaningful way. 

Trickling out onto the circuit behind the Temerario pace car – piloted by Lamborghini’s ace test and development driver Giacomo Barri – the Revuelto SV’s upgrades don’t take long to sink in. 

Turn 1 at the Nardo circuit is a fast, open left-hander, immediately followed by the much tighter Turn 2. It’s arguably the trickiest section of the track as you enter Turn 1 at 250km/h-plus and then simultaneously brake through the latter part of the corner to wipe off enough speed for the looping Turn 2.

Compared to the standard Revuelto, the SV’s super-sticky Bridgestone Potenza Race R semi-slick rubber (optional) means it feels more planted and secure through Turn 1, and credit here is also due to the SV’s bespoke aero package (including a GT3-inspired fixed wing), which provides 80 per cent more total downforce than the standard car. 

Traction out of slow corners is leech-like, with the gargantuan 1425Nm torque quota being laid to the tarmac without wasteful wheelspin. 

The SV’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission uses the same hardware as the standard Revuelto, but revised calibration means upshifts and downshifts have even more whipcrack urgency. 

Any straight or straightish sections of the track are simply annihilated, so your brain needs to quickly reprogram as corners rush up in a seemingly unrelenting blur. 

It all might sound a bit overwhelming, but it’s actually not. The thought of hustling a 783kW/1425Nm hypercar around a challenging, unforgiving circuit like Nardo might have been cause for mild trepidation in the lead-up to the event, but any such preconceptions are almost immediately banished.

As rapid and violent as it is, the Revuelto SV is also intuitive and forgiving, so it’s possible to very quickly get up to speed and begin edging closer to the car’s limits, safe in the knowledge that the electronic safety net has your back even if you overstep the extremely high grip threshold. 

A hat tip here is owed to the new brainiac 6D sensor and Integrated Vehicle Estimator as – even though there’s enough computing power operating in the background to launch the Space Shuttle – the perception from behind the wheel is of a very organic car.

Any interventions by the traction or stability control system occur seamlessly and virtually imperceptibly, so you feel as though it’s you alone who’s responsible for the on-track heroics.

The huge carbon-ceramic stoppers provide running-into-a-brick-wall levels of retardation, and they remained consistent over our four-lap track stint, even though Nardo has a handful of super-heavy braking points where high triple-digit speeds need to be wiped off in a hurry. Just as reassuring is pedal feel, which has a nice bite and progression to it.

The Revuelto SV feels tangibly faster than the base model, but the real takeaway from our brief hot-lap session is how much crisper it feels than its lesser sibling. It’s as though any filters or layers between car and driver have been pared out, and the result is that your toes and fingertips feel hardwired to the Lambo.

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The standard Lamborghini Revuelto already comes comprehensively equipped, and the SV builds on this with lashings of carbon-fibre in the bodywork, as the roof, engine covers and front and rear bumpers are all fabricated from the rigid, lightweight material, helping compensate for some of the weight gain resulting from the Revuelto SV’s larger battery pack. 

Black accents, red highlights and SV logos on the flanks add to the bespoke touches.

Further optical differentiation – and functional benefits – are provided by the lovely centre-lock wheels, race-inspired rear wing, revised front bumper/spoiler and hardcore rear diffuser. These mods also enhance cooling and aero efficiency, so it’s not merely about aesthetics.

2027 Lamborghini Revuelto equipment highlights:

• Unicolor leather/Corsa-Tex seat trim
• Leather/Corsa-Tex dashboard trim
• Carbon-fibre instrument panel insert
• Simulated suede door panel inserts
• Corsa-Tex leather/simulated suede console insert
• Aluminium interior accents
• Lamborghini Sound System with 2 woofers on doors, 2 tweeters on dashboard
• 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Integrated satellite navigation
• Bluetooth and connected services
• Wireless phone connectivity
• Mobile hotspot internet access
• USB and 12V outlets
• 2x LCD monitors
• Streaming audio
• Concealed antenna
• Real-time traffic display
• Dual-zone climate control
• Six-way adjustable comfort seats
• Manual tilt/telescoping steering column
• Sport leather-trimmed steering wheel
• Compass
• Valet function
• Auto-leveling LED low/high-beam headlights
• Daytime running lights and rear fog lights
• Remote keyless entry
• Kerb/courtesy lighting
• Illuminated entry and panic button
• Remote cargo bay and fuel filler releases
• Cruise control buttons on steering wheel
• Full floor console with storage
• Mini overhead console
• Front map lights
• Fade-to-off interior lighting
• Tyre mobility kit
• Cargo space lighting
• Power windows with one-touch up/down
• Power door locks with auto-lock function
• Redundant digital speedometer
• Trip computer
• Outside temp gauge
• Perimeter alarm
• Immobiliser
• Air filtration

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Lamborghini Revuelto safe?

The Lamborghini Revuelto SV has not been crash-tested by independent auto safety organisations such as Euro NCAP or NHTSA. Even so, it comes loaded with an armoury of active and passive safety features.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Electronic stability control (ESC)
• Driveline traction control
• Anti-lock braking system
• Dual-stage front and side airbags
• Twin front knee airbag
• Airbag occupancy sensor
• Emergency SOS call
• Active lane departure warning
• Driver monitoring alert
• Tyre-specific low-pressure warning
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Lamborghini Revuelto cost to run?

Lamborghini offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for all of its models in Australia, plus five years of free servicing in the case of the Revuelto.

To see how the Lamborghini Revuelto lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take on the Lamborghini Revuelto SV

We’ve come to expect something special from Lamborghini’s go-faster models. The SV and SVJ versions of the Aventador were memorable, as were the numerous high-performance variants derived from the Huracan – Performante, STO, Tecnica, and Sterrato.

Thankfully, the Revuelto SV doesn’t disappoint. Improving on the electrifying Revuelto might have seemed like a tall order, but the SV is proof that difficult doesn’t mean impossible. 

The Super Veloce fully lives up to its name as it’s faster, sharper and simply more rewarding to punt hard than the ‘regular’ Revuelto. This new V12 spearhead seems destined to go down as a future classic.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Lamborghini Revuelto. Click here to get a great deal.

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Explore the Lamborghini Revuelto showroom

The 2027 Pajero revives Mitsubishi's legendary SUV for a fifth generation and marks the nameplate's return after the most recent iteration exited production in 2021. As Mitsubishi has fielded an incredibly limited lineup of three (now two) SUVs and one ute since then – at least in Australia – it's also an incredibly important model for the brand.

Sporting Triton-based underpinnings and therefore shifting away from the monocoque construction of the previous two generations, the brand says the new Pajero is intended to rekindle some of the character that made the nameplate famous in the past.

Indeed, Mitsubishi Motors chief product specialist Kunitoshi Itagaki said the Pajero's reintroduction was part of an ambition to remind people what the brand was all about.

"In outlining our new mid-to-long-term vision, we are committed to introducing products that embody Mitsubishi Motors' DNA, including our strengths – capability, durability, and reliability – as part of our overall growth strategy," he told media, including CarExpert.

"The Pajero is a model that has long represented these core strengths in the past, and we believe it's really ideally positioned, not only to enhance our product lineup, but also the strength of the Mitsubishi Motors brand.

"Brand is really important for our growth, we think, and the Pajero is a really core product. This is our thinking."

Mitsubishi's mid-to-long-term vision, announced in May 2026, is to "enhance customer satisfaction and corporate value by strengthening our distinctive products and brand", motivated by the self-proclaimed need to "remain competitive" and strengthen the brand's "presence in the industry".

At the Pajero's global reveal in Japan, Mitsubishi Motors president Kishiura Keisuke declared the SUV was the first model to launch under that new vision, designating it a "flagship model that will lead the Mitsubishi Motors brand forward".

"The all-new Pajero is not simply the revival of a popular model of the past; we regard it as a valuable brand asset that symbolises Mitsubishi Motors technology," Itagaki-san said.

"So, reliability and spirit of adventure being imagined to meet today's customer needs, it's being introduced as a flagship model that represents the future of the Mitsubishi Motors brand."

Pajero is one of Mitsubishi's most well-known and recognisable nameplates. First launched in 1982 as an off-road-capable SUV that still maintained some of the comfort of a passenger car, it has persisted through four generations, the most recent of which was in production from 2006 to 2021.

Mitsubishi later applied the Pajero Sport nameplate to a smaller, Triton-based SUV, which this new Pajero also effectively replaces.

The new fifth-generation model is a significant departure in some ways from its predecessors, but Mitsubishi maintains it'll still offer the same rugged yet versatile capability as before. It's also expected that this seven-seat model will eventually offer hybrid power, while the brand may roll out additional vehicles bearing the Pajero name.

"By making it easier for customers to associate Mitsubishi Motors with our distinctive values, we aim to support the success of the broader family of off-road-oriented vehicles," Itagaki-san said.

"So, as I want to explain, 'brand' is really key for our future growth, and then Pajero has our really strong heritage and kind of the core of Mitsubishi Motors. That's why, now, we introduce the all-new Pajero to show our future and our core identity with this model.

"All-new Pajero embodies Mitsubishi Motors, and its completion is the result of the passion, dedication, and hard work of those involved in its development, testing, and design."

MORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero revealed – Off-road icon reborn as Triton ute-based SUVMORE: Mitsubishi Triton, Pajero hybrid confirmed as part of major Thai investment – reportMORE: Mitsubishi Pajero lineup to expand with RAV4-sized SUV, Suzuki Jimny rival – reportMORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom

Due to launch in Australia right at the end of 2026 from $73,900 before on-road costs, the 2027 Polestar 4 SUV brings back a conventional rear window – following the Polestar 4 coupe SUV's controversial removal of rear glass – and will be the first model from the Chinese-owned Swedish brand to be sourced from South Korea for Australia.

With its wagon-like rear end treatment, the Polestar 4 SUV offers 530L of luggage capacity up to the back of the rear seats, 655L when measured to the "inner roof", and up to 1665L with the rear seats folded.

The Polestar 4 SUV is based on the same Geely Group SEA platform as the Polestar 4 coupe, as the brand calls the sleeker sibling, with 200kW/343Nm single-motor rear-wheel drive and 400kW/686Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains offered. The latter can dash from 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds.

Regardless of powertrain, the Polestar 4 SUV's motor(s) are fed by a 100kWh lithium-ion battery as standard, supporting 200kW DC charging and up to 22kW AC charging "in selected markets".

The 'Rear motor' variant offers the most range at up to 630km on the WLTP test cycle, while the more powerful 'Dual motor' version quotes up to 600km.

Polestar says the new 4 SUV picks up the updated chassis specification from the revised Polestar 4 coupe, which includes significant suspension revisions including new spring rates, high-capacity dampers and revised anti-roll bar settings.

The company says the revised specification "has been tuned to combine comfort and refinement for everyday use and long-distance travel with the responsive handling, steering precision and driving engagement that active drivers expect from a Polestar".

Polestar's new SUV introduces a new Camping mode which, supported by vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, turns the vehicle "into a climate-controlled space at the touch of a screen". This functionality will be added after launch via an over-the-air update.

When activated, the front and rear displays offer access to entertainment, ambient lighting and vehicle controls, supported by V2L, USB-C connectivity and the in-car 12V outlet.

The V2L function can output up to 3.3kW (16A, single-phase 230V) via an adapter to power external devices until the vehicle reaches a pre-set minimum battery level, which is configurable via the vehicle's settings in the infotainment touchscreen.

Google's Gemini AI-powered voice assistant also features, supporting more natural and "helpful" voice interactions. It can complete "more complex tasks" through everyday speech commands, and also supports brainstorming, trip planning and real-time translations through Gemini Live.

Polestar's commitment to sustainability and circularity continues with the 4 SUV, which is claimed to achieve "one of the lowest carbon footprints in the Polestar model lineup".

Low-carbon and recycled materials integrated throughout the vehicle help contribute to a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of 21.1 tCO2e for the Dual motor version, and 20.2 tCO2e for the Rear motor.

Key measures used to achieve these figures include 100 per cent renewable electricity in battery cell production, 34 per cent of total aluminium content being sourced from smelters using renewable electricity, and a 23 per cent ratio of recycled aluminium.

Inside the vehicle, standard bio-attributed MicroTech upholstery incorporates backing made from 100 per cent PET plastics, and a PVC surface containing 53 per cent bio-attributed content.

The optional Tailored Knit upholstery is made from 89 per cent recycled PET plastics, and is 3D-knitted to minimise production waste.

Further, the available Bridge of Weir Nappa leather option is a "chrome-free by-product of the food industry", which has been certified to meet strict animal welfare standards and is fully traceable to its origin.

Back to the Polestar 4 SUV's features. The aforementioned conventional rear window is paired with – shocker – a conventional rear-view mirror as standard.

Customers can option a digital rear-view mirror similar to the one used in the Polestar 4 coupe, which Polestar claims offers a "wider field-of-view and unobstructed visibility with the luggage compartment fully loaded".

Polestar adds the 4 SUV offers 2.5cm more headroom in the second row, amplified by a larger new full-length panoramic glass roof, which is fitted as standard.

The full-length glass roof provides a quoted 99.5 per cent UV protection, with the optional electrochromic glass roof – unique to the new Polestar 4 SUV – further reducing glare with its electrically dimmable laminated glass layer.

With the latter option specified, owners can use the central touchscreen to choose between full transparent, fully tinted or selectively shaded roof sections.

Australian orders for the 2027 Polestar 4 SUV are open now, with first customer deliveries planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Pricing

Options

Comfort Pack: $1200

• Heated steering wheel
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Easy entry/exit
• 12-way electric seats
• • incl. mechanical cushion extension

Nappa upgrade: $5700-$6100 (Charcoal-Zinc, requires Plus pack)

• Bridge of Weir leather with Charcoal deco
• Ventilated and massaging front seats
• Harman Kardon headrest speakers – front
• Comfort headrests – rear
• Brushed textile headliner

Plus pack: $6500

• 1320W Harman Kardon premium sound system
• Head-up display
• Zinc deco
• Star knit illuminated deco
• Illuminated Polestar logo – front
• Pixel LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Rear control screen
• 12-way power front sport seats
• • incl. mechanical cushion extension
• Easy entry/exit driver's seat
• Power reclining rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated rear seats
• Tri-zone climate control
• PM2.5 air filtration

Performance pack: $7200 (Dual motor with Plus pack)

• 22-inch Performance wheels
• Polestar Engineered chassis tuning
• Brembo brakes
• Swedish gold accents

Single options:

• 22kW AC charging: $900
• Tailored Knit in Mist with Zinc deco: $1400
• Electrochromic glass roof: $2200
• Digital rear-view mirror: $1000
• Privacy glass – rear: $700
• Fully electric retractable towbar: $4070

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: Explore the Polestar 4 showroom

The 2027 Pajero is the first iteration of the nameplate to feature true ladder-frame construction in close to 30 years. That said, only the two most recent generations featured monocoque bodies with integrated ladder-frames rather than true body-on-frame construction, which was seen on the first two generations of Pajero.

Indeed, the new SUV is based on the Triton ute but with several modifications to suit the SUV application. While this sounds very similar to the now-defunct Pajero Sport, Mitsubishi's previous ute-based ladder-frame SUV, the brand has outlined several key ways in which it differs.

Mitsubishi Motors chief vehicle engineer Takaaki Matsumoto explained that adopting a ladder-frame chassis provides greater off-road capability and better captures the Pajero's multi-terrain intentions.

"The reason why we applied the ladder frame, why we judged that the ladder frame was more suitable than the monocoque, basically the ladder frame is amazing for cross-country," he told media, including CarExpert.

"From the viewpoint of strength or durability, ladder frame has advantages over monocoque. There are customers who use our car in tough conditions; in order to ensure durability and strength, we apply the ladder frame."

The Pajero is also distinct in that it features a new five-link rear suspension setup to balance off-road capability and ride comfort, unlike the leaf-sprung Triton. It also has a shorter wheelbase, more cross-bracing, and thicker side members than Mitsubishi's ute.

Matsumoto-san went on to say that the Pajero's new construction should also mean it's more comfortable inside while on the move, while also being more fuel-efficient on account of new materials and designs.

"From the viewpoint of noise and vibration performance, the ladder frame has advantages also. The cabin is isolated from the tyres and engine by the bodywork," he said.

"[Another advantage] of the ladder frame is fuel consumption. In order to improve the fuel consumption performance, we applied high-tensile strength steel to the frame. And for example, the aluminium hood is lightweight, and the engine is improved also."

This ties into the new eight-speed transmission featured in the Pajero, up from the six-speed unit in the Triton. Matsumoto-san says this will also reduce the vehicle's fuel consumption, even though the Pajero uses a version of the ute's 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy figures have yet to be confirmed.

Interestingly, the new Pajero isn't the first large SUV from Mitsubishi to use an eight-speed gearbox. The Pajero Sport that came before it also had eight gears and was based on the Triton, but the Japanese brand insists that the two vehicles are not the same.

"Roughly speaking, most components are renewed from Triton. Only the front section of the ladder frame and the front floor are common with Triton, but the others are renewed or modified from the Triton," Matsumoto-san said.

"In order to be Pajero, not Pajero Sport, we have to achieve a target. We renew most of the components."

Mitsubishi has outlined that the Pajero is intended to blend off-road capability with passenger-car comfort, a distinction it believes sets the new model apart from both the Pajero Sport and the previous-generation monocoque Pajero.

Revealed in Japan today, the fifth-generation Pajero is expected to arrive in Australia in December 2026.

It'll take on a range of ute-derived SUVs, including the Ford Everest, based on the Ranger ute, and the Isuzu MU-X, based on the D-Max ute.

MORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero revealed – Off-road icon reborn as Triton ute-based SUVMORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom

The born-again Pajero is a substantial departure from the fourth-generation model that exited production in 2021, as its construction, underpinnings, and proportions are far closer to the also-discontinued, ute-based Pajero Sport than its monocoque predecessor.

Indeed, the new Pajero is based on the same ladder-frame platform as the latest Triton ute, but it's powered by a new single-turbo-diesel engine, features a wagon body, and has a unique interior.

Unlike previous iterations produced in Japan, Mitsubishi will build the new Pajero alongside the Triton in Thailand, which will also be the first market in which it is sold. Australian pre-orders will open in October ahead of the model's expected local arrival in December.

The new Pajero's design takes inspiration from the rest of Mitsubishi's catalogue, namely the subtle C-shape motif on both sides of the front grille. The brand says its standard horizontal-slat grille was inspired by Japanese martial arts, while a Dakar-inspired hexagonal grille will also be available.

There are full-width light bars at both ends of the vehicle, with the front-end incorporating an animated signature. Though an iconic fixture of previous Pajero generations, the new model's spare wheel is no longer mounted externally on the tailgate, but moved under the rear of the vehicle.

The ladder-like C-pillar elements are said to be inspired by "the roll bar of the first-generation model", while the new Pajero body is generally very upright and boxy. Mitsubishi has confirmed a plethora of accessories will be available, including bull bars.

Mitsubishi will offer six exterior paint colours for the new Pajero – mostly whites, greys, and blacks – including two hero colours: Armor Copper and Phantom Blue (pictured below).

Underpinning the Pajero is a heavily modified version of the Triton's ladder-frame chassis. It has thicker side members, additional cross-bracing, and a wheelbase measuring 2870mm – 260mm shorter than that of Mitsubishi's ute.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Japanese brand says the front and rear of the chassis have been developed exclusively for the Pajero, adopting a double-wishbone front suspension setup for greater lateral rigidity, and a five-link rigid rear-end with coil springs instead of the Triton's leaf springs to balance off-road capability and ride comfort.

Other changes over the Triton include rear disc brakes instead of drums, a slightly tighter turning circle, and a higher "eye-point", to aid outward visibility, plus a redesigned front door structure and more upright A-pillars.

The result is an SUV that's roughly 100mm longer, wider, and taller than the old Pajero Sport, while maintaining its seven-seat capacity across three rows. It's expected it'll also be offered as a five-seater in Australia.

The Pajero's interior sports a new design and layout never before seen in an Australian-delivered Mitsubishi. Up front is a tall, slab-like dashboard, which houses a two-tier passenger-side glovebox, grab handles at both ends, and a new infotainment/climate/cluster panel.

Mitsubishi says this dashboard design was "inherited from the first-generation Pajero", and that its soft-touch finish and stitching technique are inspired by the traditional Japanese craft of Kimekomi. Similar finishes are also found on the door trims, "creating a sense of depth and premium quality worthy of a flagship model".

Physical climate controls have been retained in a new layout below the central touchscreen, while the infotainment and instrument screens share the same panel and both measure 14.3 inches across. Some trim levels will feature 12.3-inch displays instead.

Both incorporate graphics "inspired by the Pajero's heritage", led by the triple-gauge Multi Meter display on the infotainment screen. The instrument display, meanwhile, sports digital gauges and a handful of layouts consistent with other modern Mitsubishis.

Lower on the dash are a pair of USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet, while the centre console features a wireless phone charger. It's not yet clear which features will be removed in cheaper variants.

Elsewhere on the centre console is a large traditional gear selector, two cupholders, a small selection of metallic-look buttons – including one for the rear differential lock – and Mitsubishi's familiar four-wheel drive controller.

Though not confirmed, Mitsubishi's imagery reveals the Pajero may offer powered steering wheel adjustment, paddle shifters, powered seat adjustment, and two-position driver's seat memory. Most of these features will almost certainly be reserved for top-spec variants.

The steering wheel appears to be a carryover unit from models like the Triton and Outlander, though it features a smooth wrap instead of a perforated leather finish. Mitsubishi has confirmed selected variants will be available with semi-aniline leather upholstery.

Mitsubishi's column-mounted driver monitoring camera also features prominently, though the brand claims it will be less sensitive than the oft-criticised units fitted to its other current models.

Otherwise, the Pajero will follow the Outlander by featuring a bespoke Yamaha sound system developed specifically to suit its cabin. This 'Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate' system offers 12 speakers with two amplifiers, alongside active noise compensation to complement the insulated front and side windows.

As for rear-seat amenities, the Pajero will offer USB-C ports in the front seatbacks and a dedicated climate panel on the back of the centre console. There are also multi-tier map pockets, tray tables, and a fold-down central armrest with pop-out cupholders.

Additionally, the second-row seats can slide 150mm forward or back to aid third-row access and comfort. Mitsubishi says the third row offers "ample headroom, even for adults".

At launch, the Pajero will only be offered with a diesel powertrain. While it uses a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine like the Triton, it has only a single turbocharger but offers an additional 10Nm of torque for a total peak of 480Nm. However, "select specifications" will instead offer 470Nm. Maximum power output is unchanged from the Triton at 150kW.

It will also use a "new-generation" eight-speed automatic transmission similar to that in the old Pajero Sport, marking an upgrade over the Triton's six-speed unit. Like the Triton, though, the Pajero will come with Mitsubishi's Super-Select 4WD-II selectable four-wheel drive system with 2H, 4H, 4HLc, and 4LLc modes.

Mitsubishi says the new Pajero will feature Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC). Already seen on the all-wheel drive Outlander, S-AWC allows for front-rear torque distribution, left-right torque-vectoring, and four-wheel brake control to improve cornering stability and traction.

All of the above will be complemented by seven drive modes: Eco, Normal, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand, and Rock.

That's all we know about the 2027 Pajero so far. More information will be announced closer to the model's local launch, when it will compete directly with other ute-based SUVs like the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, and GWM Tank 500, along with the popular Toyota Prado.

It's almost certainly going to be more expensive than the old Pajero Sport, given its substantial overall upgrade, but it's not expected to go significantly upmarket in price. For context, the MU-X is priced from $49,900, the Everest starts at $58,990, and the Japan-built Prado’s base price is higher at $73,200.

Known as the Montero in North America, Spain and Latin America, and the Shogun in the UK, the Mitsubishi Pajero has generated more than 3.3 million sales globally over four generations since its launch in 1982.

Recent reports have suggested there will be additional Pajero-based models launching in the near future, including a Toyota RAV4-sized SUV and a compact kei-class model, and Mitsubishi has indicated it will offer hybrid versions of both the Triton and Pajero.

Click the images for the full gallery

MORE: 2027 Mitsubishi Pajero – Everything we know about the new flagship off-road SUVMORE: Mitsubishi Triton, Pajero hybrid confirmed as part of major Thai investment – reportMORE: Mitsubishi Pajero lineup to expand with RAV4-sized SUV, Suzuki Jimny rival – reportMORE: Explore the Mitsubishi Pajero showroom

Officially launching in Australia this month, the Forthing Taikon 5 is a five-door, five-seat SUV similar in size to the Toyota RAV4 and offered with a choice of extended-range electric (EREV) and electric (EV) powertrains.

Priced from $36,990 drive-away, the Taikon 5 is the cheapest EREV in Australian showrooms, undercutting the Leapmotor B10 Hybrid EV, while the Taikon 5 EV starts at $38,990 drive-away, making it more affordable than the BYD Atto 3 Essential electric SUV.

Porsche AG has filed a trademark opposition concerning the Taikon 5 name in New Zealand, where Forthing was launched in April 2026, and one in Australia.

Forthing is imported into both Australia and New Zealand by Ateco Group.

With challenges underway in Australia and New Zealand, Forthing issued a statement as the Taikon 5 began rolling into Australian showrooms, with many vehicles already with customers.

“Forthing Australia has taken the temporary and precautionary step of removing references to the Taikon 5 name from marketing materials due to a trademark infringement issue raised by Porsche AG in another country,” a Forthing Australia spokesperson told CarExpert. The model is now being referred to only as the Forthing Electric and the Forthing Range Extender Hybrid.

The spokesperson said the German automaker “alleges that consumers could mistake a Forthing vehicle for some Porsche models”.

“Whilst we are flattered that Porsche AG has expressed such strong interest in Forthing vehicles, until this issue is resolved, we will focus on promoting the Forthing brand and its electric and hybrid range-extender variants.”

Porsche hasn't publicly specified the details of its alleged infringement claims in New Zealand and hasn't commented publicly on its opposition to the Taikon trademark application in Australia.

The status of the New Zealand case is currently “in progress”, with no hearing date confirmed.

In its Australian trademark opposition, detailed on the IP Australia database, Porsche alleges Forthing parent Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor is using "substantially identical or deceptively similar trademarks", as well as a "trademark similar to a trademark which has acquired a reputation in Australia". It also alleges Forthing has made an application "in bad faith".

Porsche is expected to allege the “Taikon 5” name is too similar to that of its electric sports car, the Taycan, which was introduced in 2019 and is currently priced between $181,200 and $419,000.

However, the Taikon 5 competes in an entirely different category, with its four-variant range spanning $36,990 to $42,490 drive-away.

The Australian application to register the Taikon name has attracted two separate oppositions: one from Volkswagen and another from Porsche, of which Volkswagen is the majority shareholder.

Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co Ltd must respond to the opposition claims in September and October.

From a Volkswagen brand perspective, its Australian trademark opposition may relate to the Volkswagen Tayron SUV, a new nameplate launched in 2025 in place of the previous Tiguan Allspace.

In establishing the Forthing brand here, Dongfeng, which also has joint ventures with Honda and Nissan, registered the Forthing trademark in Australia. Australian Government approval documents also listed Genially and Joyear as potential marque names, alongside several alternatives for the Taikon 5 name.

According to the approval documents, these included T5 EV, SX5GEV, T5EVO EV, LZ6460XPE1 EV and Friday REEV (also known as T5 REEV). The names cover battery-electric and range-extender versions of the same vehicle, the Taikon 5.

The challenge comes after GAC, which launched in Australia in November 2025, changed the name of its hybrid people mover from “M8” to “E9” following a clash with the BMW M8 sports car.

Similarly, another Chinese brand, Xpeng, has announced plans to launch the GX large SUV in Australian showrooms in 2027, despite the GX name already being used by Lexus for its luxury version of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.

MORE: Explore the Forthing Taikon 5 showroom

The 2027 Range Rover Electric is powered by dual 260kW electric motors, one on each axle, delivering total system outputs of 405kW/850Nm. It features an 800V electrical architecture and a double-stacked 118.5kWh battery, offering a claimed driving range of "up to 600km" on the more lenient NEDC test cycle.

JLR says the 800V charging architecture allows for 350kW DC fast charging to replenish the battery from 10-80 per cent in "around 22 minutes", or the equivalent of 220km of range in as little as 10 minutes.

As for driving performance, the Range Rover Electric is capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds, with the 80-120km/h overtaking test taking 2.7 seconds.

The RR Electric offers a number of new technologies for the nameplate, including high-tech torque management systems as well as a Single Pedal mode which offers owners "exceptional control" to pull away up a 33-degree incline smoothly and with ease.

Coast, Light and Heavy modes for the Single Pedal allow you to toggle regenerative braking force from basically nothing to up to 0.5g. Energy is collected to recharge the battery on the fly.

Meanwhile, Intelligent Driveline Dynamics distributes rear torque from 100 per cent to zero to prevent loss of traction; whereas Integrated Traction Management helps to control motor speed to manage slip up to 100 times quicker than in an equivalent combustion-powered vehicle, with the system controlling motor speed within a claimed 50 milliseconds.

The new Range Rover App offers enhanced functionality for Range Rover Electric customers, with features including remote initiation of cabin purification or the heated steering wheel, for example. Owners can also remotely check the vehicle's live location, as well as charge status and predicted driving range.

Further, the app allows scheduled charging when the vehicle is parked and plugged in to "make the most of lower charging tariffs".

Range Rover says its first EV has been the subject of over 300 patent filings – the most for a single vehicle in the brand's history.

The British marque also touts its extensive engineering and development program for its first electric vehicle, including -40-degree temperatures in Sweden, the heat of the Dubai desert and more, with more than 1.5 million kilometres and over 250,000 hours of testing across the virtual and physical worlds.

Each Range Rover Electric comes with a Battery Digital Twin which provides more than 900 diagnostic data points, allowing Range Rover to proactively maintain clients' vehicles thanks to over-the-air software capability.

The Range Rover Electric's battery and EV componentry is covered by an eight-year or 160,000km warranty.

Pricing

JLR Australia is offering the Range Rover Electric in three grades in line with the standard petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) lineup – HSE, Autobiography and flagship SV.

For reference, the Range Rover P460e HSE is priced from $284,900 plus on-road costs in Australia, meaning the EV powertrain commands a $33,000 premium over the PHEV. While that seems like a lot, the P530 HSE with its BMW-sourced 4.4L twin-turbo V8, is priced in line with the RR Electric at $317,800 plus on-roads.

Australian buyers of the Range Rover Electric will also get a complimentary 12-month subscription to the Chargefox public charger network (limited to 500kWh), covering 942 charging sites nationwide.

While specific timing for Australian deliveries is still to be confirmed, the marque's local division has previously confirmed we can expect vehicles to arrive during the first half of 2027.

Click the images for the full gallery.

MORE: Explore the Range Rover showroom

As reported by Nikkei, the guidelines were published on September 1, 2026 by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in collaboration with the country’s State Administration for Market Regulation.

The guidelines state they're intended to “promote orderly and healthy international development of China’s automotive industry” and thereby “advance the development of the global automotive industry”.

Key elements include directives on pricing, establishing better after-sales customer support, and ensuring customer data from connected vehicles is collected in accordance with each country’s laws.

According to the new guidelines, Chinese automakers operating overseas “must not disrupt the order of market competition to obtain an improper competitive advantage”.

Price wars in the competitive Chinese market have eroded profitability for automakers, making exports to overseas markets an increasingly attractive means to offset this.

Between January and July 2026, China exported 72.5 per cent more passenger vehicles than during the same period the previous year, sending around 5.3 million passenger vehicles overseas, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

The guidelines, however, state Chinese automakers “should avoid creating disorder among sales channels” when operating overseas. They also “must not improperly impose arbitrary surcharges beyond the displayed price or collect fees that have not been disclosed”.

China is the world’s largest producer of new vehicles, with its industry producing around 34.5 million in 2025, compared with 13.5 million in the European Union, 10.2 million in the United States and 8.4 million in Japan, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

The guidelines follow calls from the Chinese government in mid-2025 to end hyper-competitive price wars, with authorities describing them as “irrational competition” that limited the long-term sustainability of the more than a hundred vehicle brands competing with each other.

The government has also cracked down on so-called ‘zero-mileage’ cars, a term used to describe vehicles made in China and counted towards a brand’s domestic sales figures before being exported as ‘used cars’ with next-to-no kilometres on their odometers.

Earlier this year, William Li, CEO of Chinese brand Nio, said the Chinese auto industry’s ‘golden era’ was over, after prices had been cut to the point where there was little profit margin left, meaning consumers in China and elsewhere would have to pay more for new cars.

“We wanted to reduce the size of the discount gap and make the reservation incentives more conservative and restrained,” Mr Li said.

In Australia, Chinese cars make up an increasing share of the market, with the Shanghai-produced Tesla Model Y becoming the first Chinese-made vehicle to top local sales in May and June 2026.

Despite this, the cheapest car in Australia remains the Kia Picanto city car, starting at $19,190 before on-road costs, which is made in South Korea, where Kia is based.

Yet the cheapest electric vehicle offered here is the BYD Atto 1 city hatch, priced from $23,990 before on-road costs; the cheapest hybrid is the MG 3 hatchback, while the cheapest plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is the BYD Sealion 5 – all Chinese models.

The cheapest commercial van sold here is also Chinese, the LDV G10+, while the cheapest ute is the LDV T60 Max Pro.

In late 2025, Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris told CarExpert the brand wouldn’t participate in a ‘price war’ among Chinese brands, despite launching the Chery Tiggo 4 as the cheapest SUV in new-car showrooms.

“If we are chopping and changing pricing dramatically all of the time, that has a really bad impact on residual values for customers. It’s about consistency and earning the right to sell them another car,” Mr Harris said.

The new guidelines also task Chinese brands with following “applicable laws and regulations” and “local commercial practices” to “properly perform their contractual commitments”.

A good example to follow may be Xpeng Australia and New Zealand’s (ANZ) pledge to honour $5000 cashback offers for buyers of the G6 SUV sold under its previous Sydney-based importer, TrueEV, after the factory took over operations earlier this year.

The guidelines also suggest Chinese brands should carry out due diligence before exporting vehicles to overseas markets.

“Companies should strengthen their assessment of products before introducing them into overseas markets and avoid exporting products that do not meet the requirements of the target market or its operating environment,” Article 11 of the document states.

It also calls for pricing transparency for customers, better ‘quality management’ and after-sales support, while ensuring the collection of data from connected vehicles – cars connected to the internet – is carried out legally.

MORE: Chinese car price war ending as costs rise – report

"Due to a software issue, the hybrid power control unit could overheat during vehicle operation. If this occurs, it could lead to a vehicle fire," the company says in its recall notice.

"A vehicle fire could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders, and/or damage to property.

"For precautionary measure, vehicles should be parked outdoors away from structures and other vehicles until the software update has been completed."

• A total of 3316 i30 Sedan Hybrids are affected, produced between 2023 and 2026
• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) list is attached here
• The original recall notice is attached here

If you own an affected vehicle, you'll need to schedule an appointment with an authorised Hyundai dealer to have the necessary work carried out, free of charge.

If you have any further questions, you can contact Hyundai Customer Care on 1800 186 306.

MORE: Explore the Hyundai i30 showroom

Video uploaded to the by user Icommentyourusername shows a BMW M3 travelling along Fairford Road in Padstow, New South Wales at what appears to be a high rate of speed on Friday, August 28, before it spins out and hurtles up the driveway of an Ampol petrol station.

A pedestrian standing on the footpath just by the driveway, with their back turned to the crashing M3, is knocked to the ground by a sign the BMW has hit. The BMW then hits the petrol bowser, which in turn hits an Isuzu D-Max parked on the opposite side.

News.com.au reports there were no injuries, even though the pedestrian was sprayed with debris.

The 33-year-old male driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a negative result. He was slapped with a traffic infringement notice for negligent driving, the penalty for which is a $577 fine and three demerit points.

The Reddit user shared further images of the aftermath of the crash, which show liquid leaking across the forecourt. Of course, this isn't a movie or video game, so there was no explosion. Nevertheless, this is a crash that could have been deadly had the pedestrian been standing just a metre away.

These are in addition to the NX350, which Lexus has confirmed it’s axing globally as part of a mid-life update for its mid-size SUV.

The axing of these three petrol-powered Lexus models will leave just three remaining in the local stable: the sporty LBX Morizo RR and the large GX550 and LX600 off-road SUVs. The Lexus LC was retired this year.

Lexus Australia says the axing of the RX350 and LS500 is in response to “customer preferences”.

In 2025, the petrol-powered RX350 accounted for 15.6 per cent of total RX sales in 2025, which was a similar take rate to the petrol-powered NX (16.8 per cent).

It was a much more even split in the LS range, with the hybrid LS500h accounting for 53.9 per cent of sales. That said, Lexus shifted just 13 LS sedans in Australia last year.

The outgoing NX350 and RX350 both use a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine producing 205kW of power and 430Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The ‘T24A-FTS’ engine was developed to replace Toyota’s naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine and was also used in Australia in the Toyota Kluger, before that model went hybrid-only in 2024.

It’s also used overseas in the SUV sold here as the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, however that model has remained diesel-only in Australia.

The engine’s removal from the Lexus NX and RX will leave just two applications locally, both of which also utilise a hybrid system: the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance and the LM500h people mover.

It’s possible the RX, of which a facelifted version has been spied testing ahead of a potential debut this year or in 2027, may follow the NX in going hybrid- and plug-in hybrid-only in all markets.

With the RX350 axed, that leaves just RX350h and RX500h hybrid and RX450h+ plug-in hybrid variants of the brand’s popular large luxury crossover SUV in Australia.

The updated RX is also expected to receive a massively overhauled interior, like its smaller NX sibling, which will bring it in line with the new-generation ES sedan and new TZ electric SUV.

The LS is also set to receive an update, even though it’s been axed in the US, which is Lexus’ largest market.

“The Lexus LS will receive a minor technical update with updated vehicles due to go on sale in Australia towards the end of the year,” a Lexus Australia spokesperson told .

Japanese outlet Creative Trend reports the updated LS will be launched in Japan in September and will lose its petrol powertrain but receive an available panoramic glass roof and reinforced floor tunnel and vibration-absorbing material for the rear crossmember, the latter changes claimed to result in improved ride comfort and steering.

However, Creative Trend reports the updated LS will miss out on the latest generation of Lexus’ suite of active safety and driver-assist technology, which is called Lexus Safety System+ 4.0, and will also stick with its existing 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen instead of moving to the brand's new 14-inch screen which uses the new Arene software platform.

As mentioned, it will lose the twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 found in the outgoing LS500, with the only powertrain to be the 3.5-litre V6 found in the LS500h.

MORE: Explore the Lexus RX showroomMORE: Explore the Lexus LS showroom

As widely expected, the global NX range will be powered exclusively by petrol hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. It also features a sportier exterior and a completely redesigned dashboard, both of which are heavily influenced by the new ES sedan.

Visually, the biggest external change has been made up front where there's a flatter, sharper spindle grille. This is flanked by a new set of headlights that feature twin horizontal driving lights, and are visually connected to the side intakes. 

At the back the tail-lights feature double the number of 'L' motifs, and the Lexus wordmark is now illuminated. In the US there are nine colours to choose from, including two new additions to the palette: Shaded Ivy and the F Sport-exclusive Incognito. 

The influence of the latest ES is most clearly seen in the new dashboard and centre tunnel. Gone are the swooshes, swirls and acres of piano black plastic.

They've been replaced by a much more spartan setup. Ahead of the driver is a slightly smaller steering wheel, while a 12.3-inch instrumentation display is a significant step up from the 8.0-inch unit found in the current car.

A 14.0-inch touchscreen sits in the middle of the dash, underneath which is a row of physical buttons that are hidden until the user goes to touch them. In the same vein, models fitted with the Mark Levinson sound system have metal speaker grilles with hidden illumination rings.

Thanks to extra reinforcement for the radiator supports, seat cross-members, rear transmission tunnel and wheelhouses, structural integrity has been increased, and is said to improve handling and ride comfort, as well as reduce road noise.

Lexus engineers have reportedly honed the car's dynamics at the company's technical centre in Shimoyama, as well as on the Nürburgring race track, and models without the adaptive suspension system sport upgraded shocks with ultra-low-speed valves.

When the facelifted NX launches in Australia, it will be without the NX350 and its 205kW/430Nm 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. Globally, the updated NX range also dumps the 127kW/206Nm NX200 and 152kW/249Nm NX250 variants as well.

The new 145kW NX300h hybrid is now the entry point to the lineup, and features a 110kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine at its heart and is capable of completing the 0-100km/h run in 9.2 seconds.

One rung up is the NX350h hybrid, which has a total system output of between 140kW and 180kW depending on the market-specific tune of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet. It has a claimed 0-100km/h time of between 7.1 and 7.8s.

For reference, the current Australian-spec NX350h makes 179kW. Once again the NX350h is available in front- and all-wheel drive variants.

Thanks to a revised rear motor control, the latter is now capable of continuous all-wheel drive operation rather than only being active during hard launches, cornering or when the wheels slip.

At the top of the pile is the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid NX450h+ with total power claimed to be between 215kW and 240kW depending on the tune of the 2.5-litre engine. Current Aussie-spec models boast 227kW to their name.

Thanks to a redesigned battery, the PHEV's lithium-ion pack has 30 per cent more capacity, boosting the driving range estimate from 87km on the NEDC cycle to more than 100km on the WLTP cycle.

All hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains are about 10kg lighter than before as the power control unit, electric motor and transaxle are all packaged together.

Drivetrain availability and specification for the Australian market will be announced closer to, or at, the car's local launch.

MORE: Explore the Lexus NX showroom

Toyota has yet to formally reveal the new generation of Celica, a two-door sports car last sold in Australia in 2005, but a Toyota North America executive confirmed in 2025 that work was under way on a model that could revive the nameplate for an eighth generation.

Since then, a camouflaged two-door prototype believed to preview Toyota’s next World Rally Championship (WRC) contender has been spotted testing ahead of its planned competition debut in 2027.

According to British outlet Autocar, the road-going Celica is tipped to use a 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive, while becoming the entry-level model for the Gazoo Racing (GR) performance sub-brand.

That would put it up against the Honda Prelude, which returned to the Australian lineup in 2026 after 25 years as a two-door hybrid coupe based on the Honda Civic.

The Prelude uses the standard Civic’s 135kW/315Nm hybrid powertrain but borrows components including its brakes and suspension from the flagship Civic Type R – itself a rival to the Toyota GR Corolla.

In Australia, the Prelude is offered in a single model grade priced at $65,000 drive-away.

According to Autocar, the Celica will follow a similar formula by using the underpinnings of the next-generation Toyota Corolla.

The new Corolla was previewed by a concept at the Tokyo motor show in October 2025 and is expected to be unveiled later this year ahead of a 2027 launch.

At the same show, Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda outlined five core brands under the broader Toyota group: ultra-luxury marque Century, premium brand Lexus, performance division GR, budget brand Daihatsu – which isn't sold in Australia – and Toyota itself.

Toyota revealed the flagship GR GT supercar two months later, powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain. It'll be joined by the GR GT3 racing car, while Toyota Australia has told CarExpert it's keen to add the road-going GR GT to local showrooms.

The Celica is expected to sit at the bottom of the GR range, though it's unclear if it'll replace the current second-generation GR86, which entered production in 2021.

Twinned with the Subaru BRZ, the rear-wheel drive GR86 coupe uses a naturally aspirated 2.4-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, offers a manual transmission and is priced from $43,940 before on-road costs.

The Celica’s reported 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine is the same unit being tested in the mid-engined GR Yaris M concept.

It's also tipped to power a separate mid-engined sports car that could revive the Toyota MR2 name.

Toyota’s 2027 WRC contender, meanwhile, is expected to use a development of the 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo engine found in the current GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

Gazoo Racing marketing manager Mikio Hayashi told Autocar the smaller engine “cannot meet emissions, so we have to consider the possibility of a 2.0-litre” for the production Celica.

The Celica’s comeback would form part of Toyoda-san’s goal of reuniting Toyota’s “three brothers” – the Supra, MR2 and Celica.

Toyota revived the Supra in 2019, although the current fifth-generation model bowed out of production in March 2026.

MORE: Explore the Toyota showroom

For MY27, the previous $37,990 drive-away J7 Track petrol has been dropped, making the petrol-powered Ridge AWD the new entry-level model. Its price has been cut by $3000 to $39,990 drive-away.

There are no changes to its 137kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, through which drive is sent to all four wheels. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 7.8L/100km.

Prices have also been cut for the PHEV models, with the Track PHEV 2WD now also priced at $39,990 drive-away following a $4000 reduction.

The lower price comes with equipment changes, including a switch from synthetic leather to fabric seat upholstery and the removal of front-seat heating and ventilation.

While the Track PHEV retains its 13.2-inch central infotainment touchscreen, it also loses its previously standard surround-view camera.

Above the Track, the Summit PHEV 2WD has had $3000 lopped off its price, taking it to $44,990 drive-away, while a new range-topping Summit PHEV AWD has been introduced at $47,990 drive-away.

The Summit PHEV AWD adds a 113kW/210Nm rear-axle electric motor to the 105kW/215Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and front electric motor used by the 2WD PHEV.

This lifts combined outputs to 260kW and 490Nm, compared with 205kW and 365Nm for the Summit PHEV 2WD.

The additional motor means the Summit PHEV AWD weighs 1923kg, an increase of 129kg, while claimed combined fuel consumption rises to 1.9L/100km from 1.3L/100km for the 2WD.

The AWD model has a claimed electric range of 80km on the NEDC cycle, compared with the unchanged 100km NEDC figure for the 2WD PHEVs.

All PHEV variants use an 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, up from 18.3kWh previously, with DC fast charging capable of replenishing it from 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes.

Ridge and Summit variants are due in Australian showrooms in September, with the Track following in October.

The J7 is the second-best-selling model in Omoda Jaecoo’s Australian lineup, behind the smaller J5 SUV, with sales up nearly 130 per cent over the first seven months of 2026. 

The announcement of an AWD PHEV variant of the Jaecoo J7 comes on the same day Geely announced an AWD PHEV variant of its rival Starray EM-i.

Pricing

MORE: Explore the Jaecoo J7 showroom

According to a report from Nikkei Asia, the new-generation model will be an electric SUV sold under the Lexus luxury brand, with production scheduled to begin at the company’s new Shanghai plant in autumn 2027.

It will be the first time Toyota has put a next-generation vehicle featuring its latest production technology into production in China ahead of Japan, breaking from a long-standing Japan-first strategy.

The move reflects the growing importance of China to Toyota’s EV plans, with the company establishing its new Shanghai operation specifically to develop and build Lexus battery-electric vehicles.

Toyota previously confirmed its wholly owned Shanghai company would develop and produce Lexus EVs and batteries, with production due to begin in 2027.

The new plant, located in Shanghai’s Jinshan district, is Toyota’s first wholly owned EV manufacturing facility in China and is being developed with an investment of around 14.6 billion yuan (~A$3 billion).

The new Lexus is expected to use gigacasting, a manufacturing process pioneered by Tesla that allows multiple aluminium body sections to be produced as a single large casting.

Nikkei Asia says the technology can reduce the weight of some body structures by up to 20 per cent, while also increasing body rigidity and reducing the number of components and assembly processes required.

The resulting weight reduction could also provide a several-per-cent improvement in driving range.

Toyota revealed it was working on gigacasting technology in 2023, with the company previously demonstrating equipment capable of producing a large section of a vehicle body in around three minutes.

Production of the new Lexus is reportedly expected to start at around 1000 vehicles per month during its first year, before increasing to tens of thousands of vehicles annually from 2028.

The China-built Lexus has not yet been revealed, although it's expected to be an SUV. Its exact name, specifications and whether it will eventually be exported remain unknown.

Toyota's decision to put China ahead of Japan is significant given the country's dominance of the global EV market.

China accounted for 8.57 million battery-electric vehicle sales last year, around 60 per cent of the global total, according to GlobalData. That was more than three times Europe's volume and more than 100 times Japan's.

The move also comes as Toyota faces increasing pressure from Chinese manufacturers, with brands such as BYD rapidly developing EVs with competitive pricing, technology and short development cycles.

Toyota has already been tailoring its Chinese EV products to local buyers, including models featuring technology from Chinese electronics giant Huawei. The company also recently redirected development away from an electric sedan in Japan towards SUV models better suited to Chinese demand.

For Lexus, the shift is particularly important. The luxury brand sold 182,458 vehicles in China in 2025, compared with 370,260 in the US, highlighting the size of the opportunity in the world's largest EV market.

There's currently no indication the new Shanghai-built Lexus will come to Australia, with the model understood to be primarily aimed at Chinese buyers.

Toyota has never exported any of its wide range of Chinese-built vehicles to Australia, though other Japanese brands have started exporting Chinese-built models to our market. That includes Mazda with its 6e and upcoming CX-6e, while Nissan is also expected to launch a range of Chinese-developed vehicles including the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute to our market.

Lexus Australia currently sells two EVs: the RZ crossover SUV and ES sedan. The large TZ electric SUV revealed this year has yet to be confirmed for Australia, however it's likely for our market given it's been locked in for a New Zealand launch in 2027.

The significance of Toyota building its most advanced EV in China could extend well beyond the Chinese market.

The technology, manufacturing processes and EV platforms developed at the Shanghai plant could eventually influence future Lexus models sold globally.

MORE: Explore the Lexus showroom

The 100 per cent low-carbon liquid fuel (LCLF) is a hydrotreated vegetable oil known as HVO100.

As part of a trial with fuel supplier Ampol, it's being tested as a direct replacement for conventional diesel in a range of Toyota models, beginning with the HiLux, the brand’s best-selling diesel vehicle.

Toyota and Ampol have tested the fuel in the current HiLux, as well as earlier versions powered by the 1GD and 2GD diesel engines dating back to 2015. The Japanese automaker says there are more than 500,000 examples of the previous N80 and current N90 generations of HiLux on Australian roads.

All current Toyota diesel models are already compatible with a 20 per cent LCLF blend, the automaker said, but the new testing expands this to 100 per cent LCLF, meaning no fossil diesel is required.

HVO100 is produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oil and recycled cooking oil and has a higher cetane number than conventional fossil-based diesel.

This provides better ignition quality and more stable combustion, while HVO100 also contains lower levels of sulphur and aromatic compounds.

No vehicle modifications are required to use the alternative fuel, meaning owners wouldn't face the expense of converting their vehicles.

“The confirmation that HiLux models from 2015 onwards can run on 100 per cent hydrotreated vegetable oil is validation that the vehicle technology exists today,” said Toyota Australia president and CEO Matthew Callachor.

“By bringing together the automotive and energy sectors, we have an opportunity to improve fuel security and reduce emissions from both new and existing vehicles.”

The announcement follows record diesel prices in Australia, with bowser prices reaching as high as $3.50 per litre earlier this year amid conflict in the Middle East.

The price surge placed a renewed spotlight on fuel security and coincided with a spike in electric vehicle (EV) sales.

EVs reached a record market share of 23.3 per cent in June 2026, while diesel’s share fell from 28.7 per cent in January to 23.5 per cent in July.

The Tesla Model Y became the first EV to top Australia’s monthly new-vehicle sales charts, doing so in both May and June, before the hybrid-only Toyota RAV4 took the number-one spot in July.

The HiLux, HiAce, LandCruiser Prado, LandCruiser 70 Series and LandCruiser 300 Series are the only models in Toyota Australia’s mainstream lineup still offered with diesel power, with most of the brand's passenger-car range going hybrid-only in mid-2024.

Its only non-hybrid petrol models are sold under the GR performance banner, including the GR Yaris, GR Corolla and GR86 sports car – although successors to these models could adopt hybrid power as Toyota prepares to resurrect the Celica and MR2 names.

Toyota launched a battery-electric version of its new-generation HiLux in May 2026 and has also announced plans to add a hydrogen fuel-cell electric (FCEV) HiLux to its Australian lineup in 2028.

MORE: Explore the Toyota HiLux showroom

Priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs, the Starray EM-i All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) will be offered solely in flagship Inspire trim, commanding a $3500 premium over the equivalent Inspire FWD.

While standard specification is largely the same, the Inspire AWD scores an 80kW/150Nm electric motor on the rear axle, bumping system outputs to 220kW/412Nm, good for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds – nearly 2.0s quicker than the FWD version.

Further, the AWD's larger 60L fuel tank (up from 51L) offsets the minor decrease in EV driving range (130km vs 136km WLTP) and adds nearly 70km of extra combined driving range, with the AWD quoting 1065km on a single charge and tank (vs 996km).

The Starray EM-i Inspire AWD retains the larger 29.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from the front-drive Inspire grade, though combined WLTP fuel consumption is slightly higher at 1.7L/100km (vs 1.6L/100km).

In addition to the extra grunt and cruising range, the Starray EM-i Inspire AWD gets a five-link rear suspension system (vs four-link in FWD versions) which is claimed to "improve ride comfort, stability and handling", while additional Snow and Off-Road drive modes help optimise the drivetrain's performance on unsealed surfaces.

The new Starray EM-i AWD lines up against the GWM Haval H6 Ultra PHEV AWD (currently $45,990 D/A), though the GWM offers even more power and performance on paper (268kW/760Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.8s).

Another key rival, also from China, is the BYD Sealion 6 Premium AWD, which quotes system outputs of 253kW/550Nm, and 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. The BYD, however, is much dearer at $52,990 before on-road costs.

Geely's Starray EM-i and EX5 SUVs have been steadily gaining momentum in Australia, aided by volatile fuel prices which have prompted a sharp increase in sales of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

To the end of July, Geely has delivered 5391 Starray EM-i SUVs this year. The PHEV SUV was launched here late in September 2025.

Meanwhile, the related EX5 EV is hitting loftier heights with 8790 units registered year-to-date, marking a 276.4 per cent increase on the same January-July period in 2025.

Geely is up 527.6 per cent overall to the end of July, and that growth trajectory will likely continue with the recent launch of the EX2 compact EV, and plenty more models to come in the next 18 months.

Pricing

MORE: Explore the Geely Starray EM-i showroom