Car news, 28 November ’24: Ford Ranger Super Duty to score 33-inch tyres, and Isuzu celebrates selling over 350,000 vehicles in Australia, and more

First and foremost, the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV has been designed and engineered in Australia, which is confidence-building for what is essentially a new Lower on specs, bigger on price - can the long-awaited plug-in hybrid version of Ford's big-selling 4x4 ute compete with Chinese rivals?

It’s been close to three years since we last ran a ute for a Chasing Cars long-term test. That very car was a GWM Ute Cannon X and by gosh did we test it How good is Australia’s most popular ute? We take ownership of a Wildtrak V6 for three months to get to the bottom of it all

The arrival of the Ford Ranger Tremor marks the ninth grade to join the local current lineup, meaning that Australia’s favourite vehicle now has as many Ford’s latest off-road variant goes back to basics and focuses on what matters but is it a convincing package for the extra $3.5K over the Sport?

The twin-turbo, four-cylinder Ford Ranger has plenty of grunt – enough to tow 3.5 tonnes – but the popularity of the V6 model goes to show that The cheapest ticket to V6 dual-cab ute ownership, the muscular Ford Ranger XLT mixes workhorse with everyday niceties in just the right way

With a choice of 11 different flavours, does the MY24 Ford Ranger lineup really need another variant in Wildtrak X? And that’s just the dual-cab, The blue oval’s new flagship diesel off-road ute fills a key gap in the burgeoning Ranger lineup, but is it worth the $76K splurge?

When considering what we’ve previously called the reigning “prom king and queen” of dual-cab utes – the common-chassis Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok – Not content with allowing VW’s Amarok a monopoly on premium status on their shared platform, Ford fires back with a lavishly-equipped Ranger Platinum

V6 engines have claimed much of the attention surrounding the new Ford Ranger – but the two-litre unit is more than adequate for most.

If you’re faint-of-heart, look away now: the new Ranger Raptor has arrived and is taking no prisoners. It’s powerful, it’s loud, and it’s bold

We test a pre-production model of the 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor twin-turbo V6 petrol in the South Australian desert.

The new Ford Ranger finally arrives complete with a V6 option. After years in the making, is this the perfect pickup for modern Australians?

The in-demand Ford Ranger Wildtrak is heavy on style, features and technology – and now it finally offers a V6. Can it justify the hype?

The idea of ‘potential’ is rife in the ute segment and often relied upon by car manufacturers to sell 4x4s which don’t meet their self-set, sky-high brief After years in the kitchen, has Ford succeeded in cooking up the ultimate ute, or is the Ranger Super Duty just another unfinished rig?

For the second half of 2026, Ford has just rolled out the more premium XLT version of its Ranger Super Duty. The double-cab Pickup configuration now joins For those seeking slightly more comfort and refinement, as well as a traditional tub, is the XLT Pickup variant of Ranger Super Duty the one for working on the land?

With the V8-powered Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and long-dead Holden Monaro now just distant memories for muscle coupe lovers in this day and age, Welcoming America’s sole remaining two-door V8 muscle-car – the Mustang GT in six-speed manual Fastback form – for a six-month stay on the Chasing Cars fleet

Amid a climate catastrophe, ever-stricter emissions regulations and surging oil and fuel prices, ploughing along in a giant American pickup feels as Ford’s F-150 full-size pickup is revised for 2026 and adds a new luxurious Platinum grade. Can it justify its $164K price, and are the F-150’s teething troubles resolved?

Have you ever stood beside a heavyweight boxer? They’re the same as we normal folk, except everything – height, legs, arms, head, hands – are about 30 to With 4500kg towing, massive payload, heavy-duty everything and smart features ready for extreme work, can Super Duty unseat the iconic Land Cruiser 79 Series?

The global oil crisis continues to push Australian new-car buyers towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Latest showroom figures from both the Federal Electrified vehicles are the biggest movers in the latest showroom results, as new-generation RAV4 makes immediate impact

Following a national cabinet meeting with all Australian states and territories on Monday, the federal Labor government has announced it will halve the Australians will save around 26c per litre at the bowser, with federal government legislating to halve fuel excise for the next three months

Two massive trucks capable of towing 4500kg, but is there space and commercial sense in Ford Australia offering both the converted F-150 and new Ranger Super Duty?

The Australian development team behind the successful Ranger ute and Everest 4WD faces an uncertain future, after Ford revealed it is seeking crucial Ford top brass to meet government this weekend as it weighs up cost of engineering hub in Australia versus Asia

In just two months of sales for 2026, the Australian new vehicle market has marked a major milestone, with Japan losing its title of lead vehicle importer For the first time in 28 years, there were more vehicles sold in Australia from China than Japan

Australia’s 2026 new-vehicles sales race is off to a solid start, with 87,753 sales recorded for the month of January, a respectable increase of 949 Solid numbers in the new car markets with January numbers up marginally over this time last year despite a drop in ICE sales

Australia’s new car sales reached record heights in 2025, pushing a slender 0.3 percent past 2024’s result with a total of 1,241,037 deliveries. The 100 best-selling vehicles in Australia in 2025, from the Ford Ranger ute to the Jaecoo J7 SUV

The Ford Ranger ute has become the best-selling vehicle in Australia outright for the third year in a row, with Toyota returning as the best-selling brand In a tumultuous year dominated by emissions standards, unpredictable demand for EVs and an influx of options from China, these are the numbers that tell the story

Australian federal government approval documents show that the Ford Ranger Super Duty has a statutory exemption from the Albanese government’s New Vehicle Regulatory sweet spot sees Ranger Duty sit just above NVES threshold, dodging emissions penalties without dragging buyers into heavy-vehicle compliance territory

The Ford Ranger Raptor just got even tougher. Limited to 500 units, the Ranger Raptor Desert Pack is developed in collaboration with aftermarket Partnership with Ford and ARB births 500 exclusive Ranger Raptor Desert models sporting decal pack and sports bar

Kia’s long-awaited, clean-sheet venture into the utility segment has hit the ground running in Australia, with the Tasman taking the win over established Why did the Kia Tasman win over titans of the dual-cab segment in Australia? The answer is simple and stark

Utes and large 4WDs helped push new-car sales to a July record, as the Toyota HiLux closed the gap to the Ford Ranger in the race to be 2025’s most Strongest July wasn’t good news for all car brands in Australia, with Chery the latest Chinese brand to spring a surprise result

Ford has revealed the primary reason behind its decision to detune the Ranger PHEV’s 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine by more than “Diesel or better” was the standard for developing Ranger PHEV’s capabilities, Ford product boss tells Chasing Cars

Australia’s new-car sales results for May 2025 have arrived, revealing a 4.7 percent decrease on May 2024’s 114,812 car figure. Sales are nonetheless New-vehicle sales slump year on year, yet hybrid sales continue to rise

Thanks for joining us this Friday April 4th 2025. Notably in car news today: Ford Ranger Super Duty 4x4 unveiled, Audi promises ICE, EV and hybrid power

Every year, around 1 million people purchase a new car in Australia – but which models of car are the most popular with local buyers? Each month, we