According to a report from Autoblog, Andrea Carlucci, Vice President of Toyota–Lexus Europe, has divulged plans for a total overhaul of future products and platforms.
The report details two main changes: Firstly, Toyota-Lexus will bulk EVs, ICEs, HEVs and PHEVs into the same naming convention. This could potentially mean fewer oddball EV names to remember (so long bZ4X!).
Secondly, Toyota-Lexus wants to shift modular vehicle production to a platform that can support either a combustion engine or dedicated electric powerplant. The Lexus ES for example, sees an EV and HEV share the same GA-K monocoque and exterior.
At large, some Toyota models are considered as protected species, and wont be changed. Chiefly, future iterations of the LandCruiser and Toyota’s GRsports models will not be modified to accommodate differing powertrain options.
Camouflaged BYD ute spied in transit with unique exterior
Images from Dongchedihave revealed a BYD ute in transit, laden with camouflage. The mystery ute reveals different styling and brightwork to the Shark 6 sold in Australia.
Dongchedi speculates the vehicle in transit is built on the same DMO PHEV platform as the Shark, but will differ from export models with use of additional driver assist features and heavily revised pricing.
The spied ute differs from the Shark 6 with a unique front bumper bar, grille and bash plate, different side mirrors, and front headlights which look more Ford Mondeo than Shark 6.
The Chinese market currently does not offer the BYD Shark 6, and further, BYD China currently has no official plan to bring the Shark 6 to its local market.
BMW Australia has announced its best-seller X1 small SUV will be added to BMW’s Sport Collection, bringing a wealth of additional features to the base model sDrive18i.
BMW has applied a fixed national drive-away price of $72,900 to its revised X1 sDrive18i – an approximately $5300 increase over the outgoing ($67,548 D/A) xLine.
Fortunately for BMW customers, the additional price does come with several additional features: the most impressive of which being Adaptive M suspension, electronic seat adjustment and newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels.
Last year in 2024, BMW’s X1 was the brand’s best-selling model in Australia, shifting 4,536 units – 1162 more than the X3, which took second place. The sDrive18i is propelled by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol, seven-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
2026 Volkswagen Golf R gains new ‘Warmenau’ performance package
Volkswagen Australia has announced a new $6500 optional performance upgrade for its flagship Golf R, named the ‘Warmenau package’.
The Golf R Warmenau option pack will run alongside familiar Black Edition and Wolfsburg options, bringing the total vehicle price to $77,490.
Volkswagen says the Warmenau pack delivers ‘form and function’ – it enhances the Golf R with an Akrapovič exhaust, a selection of carbon-look interior trim, and bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels, which Volkswagen claims are 20 percent lighter.
Volkswagen’s new MK8.5-generation Golf R brings a wealth of subtle enhancements over the outgoing MK8 Golf R for FY2026. Chief of which include updated exterior styling, revised suspension and a 10kW bump in power, now producing 245kW/420Nm.
