Mitsubishi Australia says it pressed its parent company for specific features on the fifth-generation Pajero during development. Product strategy manager Rod Pinedo said the local division sought wider cabin space and relocated child restraint top-tether points, which now sit on the second-row seatbacks. The new model is 110mm wider than the Pajero Sport. Ride and handling were also tuned with Australian input. The Pajero is due in showrooms in December 2026, priced from $68,490 before on-road costs.
Mazda's Japanese report says the next-generation CX-3 will replace the Mazda 2 as the brand's entry-level model from 2027. Mazda Australia, however, says it has no plans to drop the current 2 hatch and sedan and will keep selling it well into the future. Australian boss Vinesh Bhindi has also confirmed both models will remain in the local lineup. The light-car segment now makes up just 2.6 per cent of new-vehicle sales in Australia this year, down from 8.4 per cent in 2003.
Chery's chief product manager, Mark Qi, has said the Stockman ute platform could be used for a three-row SUV rival to the Ford Everest. He stopped short of confirming that an SUV is in development. Mr Qi said the platform can support petrol and diesel plug-in hybrid systems as well as conventional diesel engines. The Stockman ute is still scheduled to reach Australian buyers in February 2027, Mr Qi said.
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Chery's international president, Zhang Guibing, has defended the number of brands the group is bringing to Australia. He said some brands will target small customer groups and have fewer dealers than mainstream marques. Chery and Omoda Jaecoo are the main brands, and Freelander is targeting around 25 dealers for its 2027 launch. Zhang said brands would compete with each other and that distinctions would increasingly come from brand image and pricing. Brands can still share infrastructure such as back-end systems and parts distribution.
BMW has released its new 2027 X5 range, which includes an all-electric iX5 alongside mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. The iX5 offers a 144 kWh battery, with a claimed 450-mile range on the EPA test cycle, and can charge from 10 to 50 percent in a little over nine minutes at a demonstration station. The reviewer judges the electric model the best of the range. The petrol X5 40 xDrive starts at $72,100 plus a $1,450 delivery charge, while the iX5 60 xDrive starts at $79,800 plus delivery and arrives in the first quarter of 2027.
Forthing Australia is recalling 263 examples of the Forthing Electric, previously known as the Taikon 5, built in 2026. A manufacturing defect means the drive motor high-voltage power cable may rub against its mounting bracket and become damaged. This could cause a loss of motive power while driving, which the company says increases the risk of an accident. Owners will be contacted to arrange a free inspection and repair at an authorised dealer. The name change followed legal action by German carmakers Porsche and Volkswagen over the Taikon 5 name, and that action appears to be ongoing.
Chery's incoming iCaur brand plans to enter Australia in early 2027 with the mid-size V25 SUV. International CEO Ronna Luo said customisation is central to its pitch, aiming to offer recognisable designs buyers can personalise. Pricing and final specifications have not been announced. The V25 will offer electric or extended-range electric powertrains, depending on market. Mid-size SUVs were the largest segment in September, with 34,545 deliveries, up 26.1 per cent on the previous year. Electrified vehicles are also gaining share of sales.
Kia Australia has confirmed initial details for the second-generation Seltos Hybrid as it reaches dealerships this week. The 2027 range has six variants, with pricing starting from $39,990 drive-away. Base grades include 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12.3-inch display setup with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual-zone climate control. Front-wheel drive versions use a 1.6-litre hybrid system producing 113kW and 265Nm, while e-AWD models add a rear electric motor, lifting system power to around 133kW.
Chery's premium iCaur brand has started recruiting dealers in Australia for a sales and service network kept separate from mainstream Chery. Its first model here will be the V25 SUV, due in early 2027. iCaur International CEO Ronna Luo said recruitment had already begun, though she did not give a target number of sites or say whether dealers would need standalone premises. Pricing, specifications and a delivery schedule are expected closer to launch. Parts arrangements, service pricing and warranty terms remain unconfirmed. The brand will be led locally by Kate Gillis.
Chery's incoming iCaur brand has no diesel engine or ute in its current plans, its chief executive has said. Ronna Luo said there was definitely no diesel engine plan and that a pickup or truck was not planned. Chery is preparing the Stockman dual-cab ute for Australia, with deliveries due from February 1, 2027. iCaur's design vice president, Su Jun, said future models did not need to share the boxy styling of its current SUVs. The iCaur V25 is set to launch in Australia in early 2027.
Maserati was absent from the 2026 Paris motor show, while parent company Stellantis showed eight concept cars. Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa said Maserati needs new products and technology, which will be presented in Modena in December. Maserati boss Santo Ficili said a new concept car will return the brand to the large SUV segment, under the Levante name. A second concept, possibly a crossover-style Quattroporte, may also be shown. Maserati is reportedly working with JAC and Huawei on two electric vehicles, with bodies built in China and final assembly in Italy.
The Freelander 8 SUV, from the JLR-Chery brand, has been detailed in international form ahead of its Australian launch. The plug-in hybrid all-wheel drive system is claimed to produce 460kW, and the vehicle is offered in five- and six-seat layouts. Freelander has previously confirmed a 2027 arrival in Australia. Australian pricing, specifications and a precise launch date are yet to be announced. The figures presented apply to the international left-hand drive version.
Mazda has updated its CX-30 small SUV in the UK with new paint colours and added luxury and safety features. The changes were first announced for Japan in July and are being rolled out to the UK and Europe before the end of this year. Australian arrival dates have not been confirmed. UK buyers also get engine and manual transmission options not offered in Australia. Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro has said the second-generation CX-30 will launch by March 2031.
GWM Australia says its new Haval H7 has attracted more pre-launch interest than any previous GWM model, with first customer deliveries due within two weeks. The company claims the mid-size SUV received 1500 expressions of interest after its local debut at the Everything Electric exhibition. The new model comes exclusively with the Hi4 all-wheel drive system and offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. GWM Australia has confirmed a drive-away price from under $50,000, with the official launch set for next month.
Mazda is revising the rear suspension of its CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs for 2027, starting with European showrooms from December 2026. The changes aim to improve ride comfort through revised rear suspension crossmember bushings. The updated models also gain more sound-absorbing materials and an Active Parking Control system, which handles parallel and perpendicular parking. Mazda has not confirmed whether the updates will reach Australia. Mazda president Masahiro Moro said the company will upgrade the models on a scale never seen before, though he did not confirm the extent of the changes.
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Leapmotor Australia says a second batch of its high-performance C10 AWD Sports+ Special Edition electric SUV will arrive in November. The 440kW model has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.0 seconds. Buyers can choose black or white paint, or a new purple finish. The brand has not confirmed how many cars will be sold or their price. Leapmotor Australia says the limited edition acts as a halo model that raises the brand's profile. An updated C10 revealed for Europe has not yet been given an Australian launch date.
Chinese brand Lepas has announced its first Australian model, the five-seat L6 BEV Signature electric SUV, priced from $47,990 before on-road costs. Order books are open ahead of first customer deliveries in November 2026. A plug-in hybrid version is scheduled to arrive in 2027. The L6 offers a claimed 440km range on a single charge and fast-charging of up to 120kW. Lepas aims to have 40 showrooms open by the end of 2026.
Ford says its first electrified Bronco variant is expected to reach Australia and New Zealand in the second half of 2027. The super-hybrid Basecamp pairs dual electric motors and a 49kWh battery with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Ford estimates a combined driving range of 800 to 900 kilometres. The vehicle can also power appliances from its battery when stationary, with up to 6.6kW available. Ford will release full specifications and pricing closer to launch.
Right-hand drive production of the next-generation Nissan Patrol Y63 has started at a plant in Japan, with Australian deliveries scheduled for early 2027. The new flagship SUV replaces the outgoing model's naturally aspirated V8 with a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, producing 317kW and 700Nm. Braked towing capacity has risen to 3700kg. The base price has increased by $2450 to $98,990 before on-road costs. Patrol sales in Australia fell 24.5 per cent in 2025, while Toyota's LandCruiser wagons dropped 19.4 per cent.
Jetour T1 and T2 mid-size SUVs have been spotted testing in Australia, with both expected to be the first models offered by the Chery Group brand when it launches here in 2027. Photos sent by a reader show the camouflaged vehicles parked at Bondi Beach. Jetour will be run separately from other Chery Group brands in Australia. The larger F700 ute and G700 off-road SUV are not expected until the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
