Automotive news

• 2025 Cupra Tavascan Endurance review

  23-12-2025 14:00 via drive.com.au
  As more and more brands enter the medium SUV market with new-generation EVs, can Cupra hold its own in the ultra-competitive segment?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionRunning costsPrice and specificationEnergy useInterior space and comfortOn-road assessmentConnectivity and infotainmentSummarySafety Next steps
  2025 Cupra Tavascan EnduranceThe 2025 Cupra Tavascan medium SUV promises to deliver engaging dynamics, with room for young families in a smooth and silent electric car package.Blending swoopy hatchba
  
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• Why Australians are still filling up with Russian-sourced petrol

  05-01-2026 21:00 via drive.com.au
  The embargo on Russian oil products isn’t working. Here’s why.Every time you fill your car up at an Aussie fuel bowser, chances are that a percentage of the original source of the crude oil that makes up your petrol or diesel comes from Russia.That shouldn’t be the case. Since 2023, there’s been an embargo on Russian-sourced oil due to the invasion of Ukraine, but it seems that there are still ways for companies to sidestep these regulations.The key intermediary in this i
  
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• Tesla sales in Australia 2025 revealed, with biggest annual decline on record

  05-01-2026 20:00 via drive.com.au
  Tesla has reported another annual drop in Australian sales – despite launching a heavily-updated Model Y – but it is expected to remain the country’s top seller of battery-electric vehicles.Tesla annual sales in Australia have declined for the second consecutive year – as the brand’s largest year-on-year slump on record – despite a mid-year boost from the updated Model Y SUV.However, unlike its global tally, Tesla is expected to remain ahead of growing Chinese
  
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• Chinese automakers set to overtake Japan in global sales

  05-01-2026 18:54 via autotalk.co.nz
  Chinese automakers are projected to become the world’s largest sellers of new vehicles in 2025, overtaking Japanese manufacturers for the first time and ending Japan’s dominance of more than 20 years. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Chinese automakers are expected to sell about 27 million vehicles worldwide this year, representing a 17% increase […]
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• Cazoo creditors face uncertain wait for £75.8 million

  05-01-2026 18:53 via autotalk.co.nz
  More than a year after UK online used car dealer Cazoo collapsed into administration, nearly 10,000 unsecured creditors remain in limbo over whether they will recover any of the £75.8 million (NZ$155.4 million) owed to them. Joint administrators Teneo have confirmed that HM Revenue and Customs will receive its full £8 million (NZ$16.4 million) claim, […]
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• BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s top-selling electric vehicle maker in 2025

  05-01-2026 04:00 via drive.com.au
  The growth of China’s BYD – and the biggest-ever annual decline in Tesla deliveries – has seen the title of the world’s top-selling electric vehicle maker change hands.Tesla has lost its spot as the world’s number-one seller of battery-electric vehicles to BYD, after a sharper-than-expected sales decline.It is despite Tesla’s top seller, the Model Y family SUV, undergoing a major update in 2025 that stimulated demand – and comes as the US brand prepares
  
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• My First Car: Radio’s Patrina Jones’ 1985 Ford Laser

  05-01-2026 03:30 via drive.com.au
  The car that started Gold 104.3 radio presenter and newsreader Patrina Jones’ love affair with Ford Lasers.Gold 104.3 radio’s Patrina Jones remembers buying her first car – a 1985 Ford Laser five-door hatchback – from a family in Shepparton, having spotted it parked on their front lawn with a ‘for sale’ sign on it. The presenter and newsreader on Melbourne’s The Christian O’Connell Show – which will launch nationally this month – s
  
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• Chery sale makes Tiggo 7 Australia’s cheapest PHEV, undercutting BYD Sealion 5

  05-01-2026 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Clearance deals on 2025-plated Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid give the medium plug-in hybrid SUV the title of Australia’s cheapest PHEV – temporarily.Chery has announced discounts of $5000 off the list price of the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid plug-in hybrid range.The move to clear 2025-built vehicles has seen the price of the entry-level Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban reduced to $34,990, down from its regular list price of $39,990 drive-away.The move makes the plug-in hybrid SUV Austral
  
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• Mega-ministry risks stalling transport and vehicle policy, VIA says

  04-01-2026 23:56 via autotalk.co.nz
  Plans to merge housing, transport, environment and parts of local government into a single “mega-ministry” risk slowing delivery and undermining specialist policy work, the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) says.
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• Holiday road toll falls again, 2025 deaths decline

  04-01-2026 23:18 via autotalk.co.nz
  The number of deaths on New Zealand roads over the Christmas holiday period has fallen for a second consecutive year, with provisional figures showing seven fatalities for the 2025–26 period. The toll is less than half the 15 deaths recorded during the same holiday period last year and well below the 22 deaths recorded in […]
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• Mitsubishi Pajero officially teased for first time in new Ralliart video

  04-01-2026 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Mitsubishi has revealed it will rely on its rally pedigree as a marketing tool for the new Pajero.The 2026 Mitsubishi Pajero has made its first official Mitsubishi-sanctioned appearance.In a new marketing video for Mitsubishi’s Ralliart motorsport division, the Pajero is briefly teased.The new Pajero is shown alongside Mitsubishi’s past participants in Dakar and WRC, and the 2025 Asia Cross Country Rally-winning Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Triton.The teaser video also appears to suggest
  
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• Tesla loses global EV crown to BYD as sales slip

  04-01-2026 22:30 via autotalk.co.nz
  Chinese automotive giant BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in 2025, as the American company reported an 8% decline in annual sales. Tesla delivered 1.64 million EVs in 2025, down from 1.79 million in 2024, while BYD achieved record sales of 2.26 million electric vehicles for the year. The […]
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• Australia to host record 67 car brands in 2026

  04-01-2026 22:23 via autotalk.co.nz
  Australia will have 67 brands selling vehicles in 2026, rising to 75 brands by 2031, making it one of the world’s most competitive automotive markets according to new data released by the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA). The AADA commissioned automotive data and modelling agency Blue Flag to detail projected brand numbers, with the research […]
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• Chinese electric car brands could face closure amid a massive market realignment in 2026

  04-01-2026 22:00 via drive.com.au
  China’s booming automotive industry growth looks set to change direction in 2026, which could trigger a massive shutdown of numerous unprofitable brands.A seismic shift in the way China’s new vehicle market operates could see sales drop for the first time since 2020.As the saturated Chinese market begins to slow down, electric vehicle deliveries are tipped to decline in 2026, according to analysts, sending a shockwave through the industry.According to a report by South China Morning
  
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• Toyota LandCruiser Hybrid pricing could exceed $160,000 in Australia

  04-01-2026 21:00 via drive.com.au
  Toyota’s new LandCruiser flagship will feature a ‘performance hybrid’ powertrain, but pricing for the Lexus version shows the hybrid technology won’t come cheap.The Toyota LandCruiser Hybrid could land in Australia with a $166,000 price tag before options and on-road costs, making it more expensive than an entry-level Lexus LX.The hypothetical price positioning comes after Lexus Australia revealed pricing for the LX700h, the Lexus-badged version of the LandCruiser Hybrid.
  
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• Turn Your Spaces Into Marketing Machines: Showing Your Commitment to Customer Care

  04-01-2026 20:00 via autotalk.co.nz
  Optimise your use of Point of Sale tools for promotion, and demonstrate your dealership’s commitment to ethical practices and regulatory requirements. For car dealers, promoting protection options in a compliant manner signals professionalism, care and a commitment to fair dealing. One of the most effective ways to do this, is by making the most of […]
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• Making Technology Change Work

  04-01-2026 20:00 via autotalk.co.nz
  Technology change can be uncomfortable, disruptive and resource-intensive – but it’s also unavoidable. The challenge for dealership leaders is knowing when a change is due, how to evaluate it properly, and how to support their teams so the transition becomes an uplift, not a burden. A simple starting point cuts through most of the hesitation: […]
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• 2026 Kia Tasman S 4×2 review

  04-01-2026 14:00 via drive.com.au
  The Kia Tasman S represents the business end, literally, of the Tasman range. While it may be focused on fleets, could the entry-level Tasman be good enough for private buyers?
  Skip ahead:IntroductionInteriorPrice and cost to ownValue SafetyCompetitorsRunning costsSummary and verdictDriving comfort
  2026 Kia Tasman S 4×2As with most utes, the 2026 Kia Tasman will first be seen around Australia in carefully curated, glossy lifestyle images of high-spec versions on billboards and in TV commer
  
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• Subaru’s STI performance arm reveals three new JDM specials for Tokyo Auto Salon

  04-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  Subaru Technica International, Subaru’s performance division, will reveal three new special editions for Tokyo Auto Salon.
  2026 Subaru Performance-E STI Concept
  Subaru fans are sure to be heartened by the news that STI will feature three new models at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon.Subaru’s performance arm will show STI-enhanced versions of the WRX sedan, Levorg (sold here as the WRX Sportswagon) and Impreza.All three are set to become Japan-only specials, but unlike some of the legen
  
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• BYD Atto 1 could shake up Australia’s light car market

  04-01-2026 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Can BYD’s clever price and positioning for the new Atto 1 electric light car breathe life back into a segment that’s in decline?Just four models made up Australia’s Light Car Under $30,000 vehicle sales category in 2025, and three of the four saw their sales go backwards.In 2025 The BYD Atto 1 will join the segment and stands a genuine chance of causing a serious shake-up.Sales figures are down in the mainstream Light Car class by over 25 per cent with the Mazda 2, MG 3, and Su
  
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• 2026 Honda Prelude exceeds 1000 expressions of interest in Australia

  03-01-2026 21:00 via drive.com.au
  Demand is seemingly high in Australia for Honda’s first new Prelude in 25 years, but will expressions of interest translate to sales?Anticipation for Honda’s incoming Prelude has amassed more than 1000 expressions of interest, according to the brand, but how many convert to sales is still unknown.Speaking to local media, Honda Australia General Manager of Automotive Robert Thorp said demand for the reborn coupe has given the brand “confidence” that the Prelude will be a s
  
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• Nissan faces a defining year in Australia in 2026

  03-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  An all-new dual-cab ute should be a recipe for success for Nissan in 2026, but as models like Pathfinder and Patrol are left to languish, and with X-Trail as the only volume seller, can a rebadged Triton in Nissan clothes carry the brand to success?
  Nissan Navara
  Nissan’s sales forecast for 2026 could head in any direction, as crucial new models arrive, and others are held back due to production timing.The new Navara ute is a crucial new model for Nissan, as utes so often are for mainstrea
  
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• Honda Civic hybrid RS with faux gear shifts and a racing Prelude heading to Tokyo Auto Salon

  03-01-2026 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Honda wants to remind buyers that it is an enthusiast-oriented brand, with a heavy focus on racing and driver involvement at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon.
  2025 Honda Civic RS petrol
  Honda appears to be re-inventing itself as a brand with genuine enthusiast appeal, while at the same time keeping a firm eye on its eco-conscious credentials.At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda is set to unveil a new version of the Civic hybrid, equipped with the simulated gear shift technology from the new Prelude, whi
  
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• Tesla loses title of world's bestselling EV company as sales drop

  02-01-2026 21:55 via abc.net.au
  
  Tesla sales have dropped for the second year in a row, with Chinese rival BYD taking over as the world's biggest electric vehicle maker. 
  
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• Money makers: The three most expensive cars you can buy right now on Drive have all appreciated in value

  02-01-2026 21:00 via drive.com.au
  The big-dollar listings on Drive Marketplace show that savvy buyers have been able to cash-in on the right supercars.
  Savvy new car buyers in Australia know that not every car is an investment opportunity, but the three most expensive listings on Drive Marketplace right now show the investment potential of the right car.While the two most expensive classifieds make sense as recent ultra-exotic, high-performance supercars, the third-highest listing might be a surprise for all but the most die-har
  
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• Ram 1500 TRX returns as first ‘new’ model from revived SRT division, could come to Australia

  02-01-2026 04:00 via drive.com.au
  After axing the V8-powered TRX, Ram has reversed its decision and brought the TRX back to life with an even more powerful supercharged V8.The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX has returned with supercharged V8 power and is being billed as the “fastest and most powerful production gas pick-up truck in the world”, and it is in with a chance to come to Australia.Following the relaunch of the 5.7-litre V8 in regular Ram 1500 models in North America, the revived TRX offers 579kW and 922Nm from its 6.2-li
  
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• 2026 BYD Atto 3 electric car’s potential replacement spotted in disguise

  02-01-2026 03:00 via drive.com.au
  A new generation BYD electric SUV has been spied in production-ready form, pointing to a replacement for the four-year-old Atto 3.The second-generation 2026 BYD Atto 3 has been spied testing with minimal camouflage, suggesting it’s very close to launch.The car shown in these images is the Chinese market BYD Yuan Max, with the Yuan logo on the steering wheel that will be replaced by BYD badging in markets outside of China.The Yuan Max name will replace the Yuan Plus moniker used currently,
  
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• Roof loads done right: Surfboards, kayaks and Aussie rules

  02-01-2026 02:57 via drive.com.au
  Strap gear safely with Australian rules made simple. Learn tie-down basics, weight limits and setups that stay secure on the road.Nothing beats a trip to the beach with a board or kayak along for the ride. But securing gear to your roof is not as straightforward as you may think and can easily catch you out if you’re unfamiliar with the rules. Tie-down laws and safe anglesAs outlined in the National Transport Commission’s load restraint guide, it is on the driver to ensure the r
  
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• Honda Australia hoping for back-to-back-to-back sales growth

  02-01-2026 00:00 via drive.com.au
  New and refreshed models in 2026 are expected to continue Honda Australia’s sales comeback after moving to fixed-price sales strategy.
  Honda Australia is targeting its third consecutive year of sales growth in 2026, hoping to capture an additional 10 per cent of share off the back of an expected 10 per cent increase in 2025.Speaking to media, Honda Australia General Manager of Automotive Robert Thorp said the goal is for another year of expanding sales after the brand logged a record-low a
  
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• Tesla electronic door releases could be responsible for 15 deaths – report

  01-01-2026 23:00 via drive.com.au
  An investigation by Bloomberg attributes 15 deaths to entrapment caused by Tesla’s electronic door release system in crash situations.An ongoing investigation by news outlet Bloomberg reports that Tesla’s electronic door release system could be responsible for at least 15 deaths in the United States.The report filed by Bloomberg analysed crash data going back to 2012, following multiple reports by owners that Tesla’s electronically operated doors could fail to operate following
  
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