Friday Drive: EV Surge in Australia, Porsche Flat-Six Rumors, Toyota Truck Recall, and Motorsport Musings
I’ve been zig-zagging across dealer lots and bad coffee this week, and the Australian market is fizzing. EVs are muscling into mainstream segments, a familiar ute still wears the sales crown, and somewhere in Europe, a secret supercar hoard is about to make collectors go weak at the knees. Plus, there’s noise from Stuttgart about flat-sixes, a Toyota truck recall you should actually act on, and a bit of contract theater in F1. Let’s get into it.
Australia’s September shake-up: EVs climb, utes rule, and SUVs reshuffle
September’s VFACTS read like a plot twist. The Toyota HiLux stayed on top—no surprise there—but the headline is Tesla hauling itself into the month’s top three with a record EV share. I swung by a couple of metro dealers on Thursday; you could feel the temperature change. Sales staff who last year spoke of EVs with polite curiosity now talk trade-in timelines and driveway chargers like it’s school pickup chat.
BYD Sealion 7 EV elbows into the mainstream
The stat that made my eyebrow jump: BYD’s Sealion 7 EV has outpaced the usual petrol-diesel mid-size suspects—think Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5, and Hyundai Tucson. That’s not a niche win; that’s the heartland of Australian family motoring. I took a brief suburban loop in one earlier this month—quiet ride, easy throttle modulation, and the cabin space you want for school bags and a dog. No, it won’t win a B-road hero award, but it’s dead simple to live with.
Ford Everest outsells Toyota RAV4
Another fun one: Everest nudging past RAV4. When I last ran an Everest over corrugated backroads, the chassis had the kind of calm that makes long distances shrink; and yes, the diesel’s muscle fits Aussie touring. This flip tells you shoppers want the stance and tow capacity of ladder-frame SUVs—even as EVs hawk for attention.
2026 Tesla Model 3: Australia’s longest-range EV
Tesla’s updated Model 3 is now billed as Australia’s longest-range EV. I haven’t done a full Brisbane-to-Byron stint yet, but the bigger story is what that range promise does for fence-sitters. Range anxiety isn’t romantic; a longer number on the dash is the best therapy. Paired with Tesla’s charging network, it’s the EV to beat for long commuters and weekenders.
Volvo’s electric timing: Australians call the tune
Volvo says the switch to all-electric here will be paced by local demand. Sensible. I’ve chatted with a few XC40 and XC60 owners—many love the mild-hybrid ease but still want towing comfort and reliable highway charging before they bolt to full EV. Volvo’s reading the room, and good on them.
Chery’s first Aussie ute: work boots first, diesel PHEV likely
Chery’s incoming ute will prioritize work duties and could bring a diesel plug-in hybrid option. That’s catnip for tradies who live off-grid during the week and want silent early-morning departures at home. If they nail payload, tray ergonomics, and dealer coverage, the segment will notice.
| Topic | What happened | Why it matters | My take |
|---|---|---|---|
| VFACTS headline | HiLux still #1; Tesla cracks top three with record EV share | Signals EVs are now a mass-market reality | Infrastructure and residuals will shape the next leap |
| BYD Sealion 7 | Outsells Outlander, CX-5, Tucson | EV wins in the core mid-size family segment | Usability over thrills—but exactly what buyers need |
| Ford Everest | Edges past Toyota RAV4 | Strong pull toward tow-friendly, adventure-ready SUVs | Ride comfort and torque sell road trips |
| Tesla Model 3 | Now the longest-range EV locally | Eases range anxiety for commuters and travelers | The charging map matters as much as the battery |
| Volvo Australia | All-electric timing to follow demand | Pragmatic path for mixed-use buyers | Expect a staggered, customer-led rollout |
| Chery ute | Work-first brief; diesel PHEV on the cards | Bridges productivity with low-emissions tech | Price and dealer network will make or break it |
Porsche whispers: Cayman and Boxster, meet flat-six?
Autocar’s line that the new Cayman and Boxster could adopt a 911-derived flat-six has the faithful pacing the garage. If that pans out, expect a return to the creamy throttle response and harmonic richness that the four-cylinder turbo simply can’t fake. I still remember a dawn run in an old 981—second gear, 5000 rpm, steering buzzing like a tuning fork. A six in the new car could bring that spine-tingle back, with modern polish.
Ownership alert: Toyota truck recall
Nearly 400,000 Toyota trucks—Tacoma and Tundra—are being recalled over a software bug, per the latest reports. If you’re affected, don’t wait. Book the fix and keep your maintenance records tidy. I keep a glovebox log; it’s old-school, but it saved me once when a dealer queried a warranty claim.
Collector corner: a “hidden” supercar stash heads to auction
There’s talk of a secret European collection surfacing—potentially the auction of the decade. These moments are catnip for market watchers; one offbeat result can ripple through valuations for years. I once watched a supposedly “unsellable” manual V12 go well over estimate because two bidders just had to have the same thing. People, not spreadsheets, set the ceiling.
Motorsport quick hits
- F1: George Russell’s deal delay has layers—performance metrics on one side, marketing calculus on the other. Classic modern F1. The stopwatch is king until a sponsor presentation walks in.
- MotoGP: VR46 has effectively confirmed Bagnaia tested Morbidelli’s bike. Development by proxy? It happens more than teams admit. The stopwatch doesn’t lie; nor do tire temps.
Feature highlights
- EV momentum is now reshaping Australia’s most conservative segments.
- Ford’s Everest win over RAV4 signals appetite for robust, tow-capable family trucks.
- Tesla stretches range leadership; Volvo keeps a pragmatic pace toward full-electric.
- Porsche’s flat-six rumor has enthusiasts readying their earplugs (and checkbooks).
- Toyota’s big truck recall: act fast, keep paperwork, and stay safe.
Conclusion
The market’s moving in two directions at once—quiet EVs taking over school runs, burly ladder-frame SUVs ruling the open road. In between, brands are hedging smartly: more range, more practicality, fewer compromises. If Porsche really brings back the six, and Toyota clears its software wobble, we might just have our cake and eat it—silently, swiftly, and with a tow hitch.
FAQ
- Which car topped Australian sales in September 2025? Toyota HiLux remained number one, with Tesla breaking into the top three amid record EV share.
- Is the BYD Sealion 7 EV really outselling mainstream mid-size SUVs? Yes, it has outpaced models like the Outlander, CX-5, and Tucson in the latest figures.
- What’s new about the 2026 Tesla Model 3? It now claims the longest driving range of any EV on sale in Australia.
- Are the next Porsche Cayman and Boxster getting a flat-six? Reports suggest they could adopt a 911-derived flat-six, signaling a return to classic character.
- Which Toyota trucks are affected by the recall? Recent reports cite Tacoma and Tundra models, with a software issue prompting a large-scale recall.
