Automotive news

• 2026 XPeng G6 to add all-wheel-drive option, axe cheapest model

  18-12-2025 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Updates to the Model Y-rivalling XPeng G6 from China will see the base model dropped, and a new all-wheel-drive ‘performance’ edition added.The 2026 XPeng G6 mid-size electric SUV will gain an all-wheel-drive performance flagship – but drop the smaller battery choice – when the updated model arrives in Australian showrooms towards the middle of next year.The distributor of XPeng cars in Australia has ruled out a major price cut for the facelifted G6 to continue to undercu
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Urban Car Under $30K finalists announced

  18-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The market for cost-conscious urban buyers is bristling with value, practicality, and efficiency – here are the finalists for the Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Urban Car under $30K category.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Off-Road SUV Under $90k finalists announced

  18-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Off-Road SUV Under $90,000 category are locked in, with one big surprise.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, comparing each against its innate promise to
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Electric Vehicle Under $90K finalists announced

  18-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Want an EV that delivers plushness and performance but sits under the Luxury Car Tax threshold? These are the finalists for the Drive Car of the Year Best Electric Vehicle under $90K category.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Electric Vehicle Under $60K finalists announced

  18-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Under $60,000 is the hottest battleground for electric-car sales in Australia. Here are among the best, the finalists in the running to win the Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Electric Vehicle Under $60K award.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We te
  
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• Victorian ‘Traffic Camera Services’ contract extended until 2029 for Serco

  18-12-2025 22:00 via drive.com.au
  The multinational company that has operated Victoria’s traffic camera network for nearly two decades has had its contract extended until 2029.Serco, the multinational company that has operated Victoria’s traffic camera network for nearly two decades, has had its contract extended until 2029.The Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria (DJCS) confirmed to Drive that Serco’s contract to provide “Traffic Camera Services” has been extended to 31 October 2029.
  
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• 2026 XPeng G9L could become brand’s first seven-seat SUV in Australia

  18-12-2025 21:00 via drive.com.au
  A new flagship electric SUV from Chinese upstart XPeng could be its first with a third row of seating, filling a gap that rivals BYD and Tesla can’t currently match.XPeng’s flagship high-riding model in Australia, the G9L, may become its first seven-seat SUV when it arrives in showrooms by the end of next year, pending any delays.The G9L is an as-yet-unseen upgrade of the G9 sold by XPeng overseas, a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe-sized five-seat SUV rated for up to 585km of WLTP dr
  
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• How I beat Sydney traffic by using a car ferry

  18-12-2025 20:00 via drive.com.au
  Sydney traffic is at an all-time high, so I’ve resorted to any legal means necessary to get home faster – and I might’ve found the weirdest one yet, but it somehow works.
  Left image: Sesqui centennial.
  Sydney is officially the most congested city in Australia, according to recent Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data analysed by iSelect.RELATED: This country town is hiding the last Holden dealershipThe insurance comparison site crowned the city number one due to residents
  
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• 2026 Skoda Kodiaq, Select to add mild-hybrid tech to cut fuel use: Details

  18-12-2025 07:00 via drive.com.au
  Skoda’s new Santa Fe and Camry-rivalling mild-hybrid model grades promise massive fuel efficiency savings compared to their predecessors, but they’re not quite as electric-capable as their rivals.
  Skoda Kodiaq 140TSI Select pictured, with the same styling as the mild-hybrid, bar different wheels.
  Skoda will trim fuel consumption – and, in some variants, prices – with the introduction of mild-hybrid power in the Kodiaq family SUV and Octavia mid-size car early next year.Th
  
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• Wellington-founded PartsTrader acquired by US giant Enlyte

  18-12-2025 06:49 via autotalk.co.nz
  PartsTrader, the automotive parts marketplace founded in Wellington in 2004, has agreed to be acquired by US company Enlyte in a deal that marks a significant milestone for the New Zealand-born firm’s global expansion. The collision repair parts procurement platform will become an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Enlyte, the parent company of Mitchell’s Auto […]
  The post Wellington-founded PartsTrader acquired by US giant Enlyte appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Baby seat bingo: Will my child seat fit my car?

  18-12-2025 06:00 via drive.com.au
  Although many models may claim to be ‘universal’, not all child seats will fit safely in all cars. Here’s your guide on what you need to know before you buy.Buying your first child seat is a rite of passage for a new parent, but which one do you buy?Friends, family, mums’ groups – they all have an opinion on which is the ‘best’ seat, but before you head out to the shops and part with a wad of cash, you first need to check not only whether your chosen sea
  
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• Transport ministry merger could stall vehicle standards work – Associations

  18-12-2025 05:02 via autotalk.co.nz
  The Government’s plan to merge four agencies into a new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) by July 2026 risks delaying critical automotive industry reforms, with industry leaders questioning both the timing and ambitious implementation schedule. The new ministry will combine the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry […]
  The post Transport ministry merger could stall vehicle standards work – Associations ap
  
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• Ford names Mawal as Australia and New Zealand CEO

  18-12-2025 04:44 via autotalk.co.nz
  Ford Motor Company has appointed Fadi Mawal as President and CEO of Australia and New Zealand, effective January 1 2026. Mawal, a 31-year Ford veteran, will replace Andrew Birkic who is transitioning to Vice President, Sales and Service, Ford International Markets Group after five years leading the Australia and New Zealand business. The appointment sees […]
  The post Ford names Mawal as Australia and New Zealand CEO appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Welcome to the December issue of AutoTalk

  18-12-2025 03:03 via autotalk.co.nz
  The December 2025 issue of AutoTalk is out now and available for free PDF download. This month’s we discuss a “seismic shift” in the New Zealand automotive landscape. The results of the 2025 Dealer-Distributor Relationship Index (DDRI) show Chinese brands sweeping the board, topping 66.3% of survey categories—a tenfold increase from last year—while the dominance […]
  The post Welcome to the December issue of AutoTalk appeared first on Autotalk.
  
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• Nissan to double Nismo high-performance car line-up

  18-12-2025 02:00 via drive.com.au
  Australia is among the export markets that could benefit from a flood of new high-performance Nissans, hoped to boost the company’s image amid tough times.The global line-up of high-performance Nismo road cars will expand from five to 10, in a move intended to boost interest in the Nissan brand through more emotional “heartbeat” models.And the majority of those are expected to be destined for markets outside of Japan, as Nissan is hoping to boost export sales of Nismo cars from
  
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• Porsche to re-engineer electric 718 Cayman and Boxster for petrol power – report

  18-12-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Plans for the next-generation Porsche 718 to go all-electric appear to have changed, with the EV platform now coming in for a rework to accept petrol engines.
  Current Porsche 718 Cayman
  The next generation of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman – originally set to be electric cars – are now reportedly planned to be re-engineered to fit petrol engines.The German car giant has already indicated that certain flagship RS six-cylinder versions of the 718 will be thrown a lifeline, and sold
  
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• Porsche to re-engineer electric 718 Cayman and Boxster for petrol power

  18-12-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  Plans for the next-generation Porsche 718 to go all-electric appear to have changed, with the EV platform now coming in for a rework to accept petrol engines.
  Current Porsche 718 Cayman
  The next generation of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman – originally set to be electric cars – are now reportedly planned to be re-engineered to fit petrol engines.The German car giant has already indicated that certain flagship RS six-cylinder versions of the 718 will be thrown a lifeline, and sold
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K finalists announced

  17-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Luxury SUV Under $150K category are locked in, but competition was intense.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, comparing each against its innate promise
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Electric Vehicle Under $40K finalists announced

  17-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Electric Car under $40,000 have been named, showing some hot competition among EVs at an accessible price point.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, compa
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Dual-Cab Ute Under $90K finalists announced

  17-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Dual-Cab Ute Under $90K category are locked in with two all-new contenders.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, comparing each against its innate pro
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Dual-Cab Ute Under $60K finalists announced

  17-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  The finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Dual-Cab Ute Under $60,000 category are locked in after extensive testing.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, comparing each against its innate promise t
  
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• Tesla Model Y L six-seater approved for Europe, Australia could be next

  17-12-2025 22:00 via drive.com.au
  With certification documents approved in Europe, the long-wheelbase Model Y L could now be seen in a number of international markets, including Australia.A longer, three-row version of the Tesla Model Y available in the Chinese market has now been approved for sale internationally – paving the way for an Australian arrival.Certification documents for the European Union have been filed and approved, suggesting that a six-seat version of the Model Y, known as the Model Y L in China, could go
  
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• Kia rules out ‘fast-tracked’ Tasman restyle, like this viral AI render

  17-12-2025 21:00 via drive.com.au
  Claims that Kia is about to launch a facelifted Tasman – amplified by a viral, but in-house render of a military-spec version, seemingly created by AI – have been shot down.Kia has knocked back speculation that a redesigned Tasman – with fresh front-end styling – is being fast-tracked to showrooms to address criticism of the polarising original design.Much of it has been stirred by seemingly AI-generated renders of a military-ready Tasman – wearing softer styling &n
  
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• ‘A battleground’: The shopping centres with the highest rates of car collisions

  17-12-2025 20:00 via drive.com.au
  While it’s easy to find a car park at your local shopping centre, new data reveals the areas with the highest rates of car park accidents.
  Picture: iStock
  Oh, Christmas in Australia. Amid the 30-plus-degree weather, constant slip, slop, slapping and, of course, shopping for presents, Christmas is arguably one of the most stressful times of year for many.Your local shopping centre will inevitably be packed with people in the lead up to Christmas – and so too, will its car park.
  New da
  
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• Ford’s revised electric car strategy will cost nearly $30 billion

  17-12-2025 07:11 via drive.com.au
  Lower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles (EVs) has caused Ford to rethink its new-model strategy, which will now focus on hybrids.
  Ford CEO Jim Farley presents the brand’s new Universal EV Platform.
  Ford has taken a step away from an all-electric automotive future, pushing hybrid and range-extenders to the fore, but costing it $US19.5 billion ($AU29.4 billion) to change course.Announced overnight, the new plan – dubbed Ford+ – walks back the brand’s previous ambit
  
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• ‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’: Aussie driver mistakes fountain for roundabout

  17-12-2025 06:00 via drive.com.au
  Most local drivers know the roundabouts in their neighbourhoods like the back of their hand, but this motorist got a bit turned around at a shopping centre fountain.Picture: Reddit
  If you’re like me and you’re a creature of habit, driving in unfamiliar places can be frustrating, particularly when you’re visiting a shopping centre.Case in point: a driver in New South Wales has gone viral on social media after losing track of the road… literally.RELATED: How many times can
  
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• Europe finally axes 2035 ban on new petrol, diesel car sales

  17-12-2025 01:48 via drive.com.au
  After years of pressure from car makers – and slower-than-planned EV sales – the effective ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales in Europe from 2035 is about to be scrapped.A controversial plan set to effectively end the sales of new petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles in Europe come 2035 has been dropped amid a slower-than-forecast adoption of electric cars.The European Commission announced overnight a “pragmatic” update to the policy that will now require a reducti
  
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• 2026 Jaecoo J5 features for Australia confirmed, pricing imminent

  17-12-2025 01:00 via drive.com.au
  The Jaecoo J5 small SUV will debut in Australia as a fully electric BEV in January 2026, with hybrid and petrol versions to follow in March.The new smaller J5 SUV from Jaecoo – the higher-end sub-brand of Chinese carmaker Chery – will enter the Australian market in January 2026.The Jaecoo J5 is due to arrive first in its battery-electric (BEV) guise – in one high-spec variant called Ridge – ahead of more affordable hybrid and entry-level turbo-petrol models in mid-March 2
  
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• Petrol sold in Australia just got cleaner, at little cost to motorists

  17-12-2025 00:00 via drive.com.au
  Long-awaited changes to the quality of petrol means Australia has now caught up to the rest of the developed world, at a minor cost at the pump.
  Fuel bowsers across Australia are now dispensing cleaner petrol now on par with much of the rest of the developed world – at a negligible cost to motorists.From Monday, December 15, fuel stations across the country have been required to only sell petrol with no more than 10 parts per million of sulphur, a natural component of crude oil that leads
  
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• Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Seven-Seat SUV Under $90K finalists announced

  16-12-2025 23:00 via drive.com.au
  Large families take note because the finalists for Drive Car of the Year 2026 – Best Seven-Seat Under $90K category are locked in.
  Drive Car of the Year 2026The annual Drive Car of the Year awards program continues to be the Australian new car buyer’s most-trusted advisor. At Drive, we’ve never been busier in our mission to evaluate all new cars that arrive in our market. We test over 200 cars annually through reviews, comparing each against its innate promi
  
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