Some of Australia’s most experienced racing drivers have been forced to pass a mandatory licence test before they can take to the grid in this weekend’s Bathurst 1000. Motorsport Australia has required every driver competing at Mount Panorama to complete a 31-question Driver Regulations Refresher Test and achieve a perfect score before being allowed on track, reportedly forcing some drivers to turn to AI for help.
According to Fox Sports’ Track Torque, an email sent to Supercars and Super2 team managers warned that drivers would not be permitted to participate in the event unless they successfully completed the test. However, that has left drivers confused, with some claiming answers required by the test contradict regulations used in the Supercars championship.
One star reportedly failed the online test three times, while another admitted to using ChatGPT for assistance with three questions because the required answers differed from the Supercars rules they are used to following.
One example of that concerned weaving behind the safety car. While Supercars regulations allow drivers to weave, the Motorsport Australia test required them to answer that they could not.
Another concerned the black-and-orange mechanical warning flag – commonly referred to as the “meatball” flag – which requires a damaged car to return to pit lane. The test reportedly required drivers to answer that they must respond immediately, while drivers claimed Supercars regulations provide a three-lap window.
The test has to be completed unsupervised online and also covers more fundamental motorsport safety topics, including blood-alcohol requirements and procedures during a red-flag period.
Motorsport Australia told the publication that the unusual requirement was introduced specifically for events held at Mount Panorama due to the track’ss unique characteristics. It follows several significant incidents at the circuit during 2026, including a serious crash involving Ralf Aron at the Bathurst 12 Hour, which left the driver with a broken back.
“Safety is paramount,” Motorsport Australia said, adding that the refresher was designed to “bring rules surrounding flag states and safety-car procedures back to the forefront of drivers’ minds”.
The test has also been completed by drivers across all categories competing at this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour and Bathurst 6 Hour, with the same requirement of recording a 100 per cent pass mark before participation in the races is allowed.
Tesla has joined forces with some of Australia’s biggest electricity companies to strike back against plans to expand the nation’s EV charging network by using power bill increases to force all Australians to pay for the upgrade, regardless of whether they use electric vehicles or not.
Elon Musk’s carmaking colossus has penned a joint letter to authorities along with electricity providers including AGL, Engie and EnergyAustralia to warn against the plan after power companies were given preliminary approval to build 14,000 chargers on existing power poles.
The approval is designed to fill charging gaps in regional areas and other black spots, and the companies will be allowed to recover 70 per cent of the costs by jacking up charges on electricity bills for all Australians. The federal government will pay for the remaining 30 per cent of the outlay.
According to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), the increase in the bill will amount to $1 a year over a five-year period – but Tesla and the other signatories to the joint statement dispute that and believe the charges could be an “EV tax” that’s unfairly applied, the SMH reported.
The submission argues that the AEMC’s figures fail to show whether each charger would justify the cost by spurring on 1.5 to 3.8 new EV purchases, and that allowing the big players to enter the charging market will undermine private operators, like Tesla, who have invested in their own networks.
“This is potentially like an EV tax on electricity bills. People who cannot afford an EV, do not own a car or will never use these chargers would still contribute through their electricity bills – the AEMC must explain why that is justified,” said Stephanie Bashir of the Next Advisory consultancy firm, which organised the letter.
Tesla said electricity network operators’ job is “not to own, control, or roll out the batteries, chargers and other equipment” and the big power companies “should not pull up a chair and play, while also owning the table, writing the rules for who gets a seat, and acting as umpire”.
Network operators like Ausgrid have previously said letting them into the public-charging market will mean better options for Aussies who can’t charge their EVs at home and lead to the provision of “faster, more affordable, and more widespread access to charging where people need it”.
In related news, Ampol has just spent $225 million to buy Evie Networks, which triples the amount of EV charging bays the petroleum giant owns and puts it ahead of Tesla as the top charger owner in the country.
It’s finally here. After a long teaser program, Jaguar has revealed the production version of its radical Type 01 electric grand tourer. Previewed by the Type 00 concept from 2024, the Type 01 is the first production model from the brand’s reinvention as a more exclusive luxury concern and it’s a dramatic departure from anything that came before it. Jaguar Land Rover Australia has already confirmed that the new flagship will launch locally in 2027 priced from approximately $300,000 before on-road costs.
Described as a four-door luxury GT, the Type 01 measures a substantial 5235mm long but just 1403mm tall, with its almost cartoon-like proportions including a long bonnet, short front overhang and sweeping coupe-like roofline. Its standard wheels measure a huge 23 inches, although smaller 21-inch items will also be offered, while Jaguar claims the 01’s drag coefficient of just 0.23Cd makes it the most aerodynamic vehicle the marque has ever produced.
Underneath the Type 01’s body is Jaguar’s new dedicated ‘Jaguar Electric Architecture’ (JEA) with a tri-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain developing up to 757kW of power and 1365Nm of torque. A 260kW electric motor powers the front axle, while two 310kW motors drive the rear, helping the Type 01 accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.2 seconds. Jaguar also quotes a 100-180km/h time of just 4.0 seconds.
The Type 01 features a large 118kWh battery, which is claimed to provide up to 720km of WLTP-rated driving range, and its 850-volt electrical architecture supports DC fast charging at up to 350kW for a claimed 10-80 per cent charge time of as little as 22 minutes.
AC charging is also available at up to 22kW, while dynamic highlights include rear-biased all-wheel drive, 50:50 weight distribution, all-wheel steering, adaptive air suspension and adaptive dampers. There’s no rear window, however – that’s been replaced by a camera.
The dramatic design approach continues inside, where a central spine divides the cabin into four individual seating areas. A 24-inch OLED driver display dominates the dashboard and is accompanied by a 7.0-inch touchscreen for commonly used functions such as the climate and audio.
There’s also a 38-speaker Meridian sound system incorporating a full-width panoramic soundbar, heated and cooled front and rear seats, massaging front seats, a switchable panoramic glass roof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a digital rear-view display in place of a conventional mirror. Jaguar claims cargo capacity of more than 450 litres, expanding to 1000L with the rear seats folded.
The Type 01 will restart Jaguar’s model range after it ended production of its previous-generation vehicles as part of its move upmarket. It is also expected to be the first of several models using the new JEA platform as Jaguar targets significantly more expensive territory than it occupied with cars such as the XE, XF and F-Pace.
The Jaguar Type 01 will launch in Australia sometime in 2027, with local pricing starting from “approximately” $300,000 plus on-road costs. Local details such as model lineup, standard features and optional extras will be announced closer to the local launch.
BMW has marked the production of the millionth vehicle from its M stable by releasing official photos of its upcoming all-electric M3. The images provide easily the clearest look at the barnstorming EV and how it differs from the M Neue Klasse concept that first surfaced in June.
The EV M3 is clad in camouflage that’s very reminiscent of the paintwork on some of BMW’s famous Art Cars, but there’s enough on display to draw some conclusions about what the high-performance head of the i3 range will look like once it hits dealerships.
Many of the styling cues from the wild M Neue Klasse remain, in particular the headlights, the layout of the grille – which now gets an M3 motif – and the big, aggressive scoop in the bonnet. There’s a deep V running through the middle of the hood, as well, and the camo M3 EV also sports the concept’s vertical track lights on the outer edges of the front bumper.
Like the concept, the M3 EV has two large air intakes near the bottom of the front bumper, although they have been wound back somewhat compared with the huge versions on the Neue Klasse. There is a hint that the intakes on the camouflaged M3 could have movable flaps, too.
The concept (pictured below) and the camo M3 really start to differ at the rear. Whereas the Neue Klasse had an integrated ducktail spoiler out back, the freshly revealed version gets a small bootlid spoiler. And while the concept housed the brand’s famous logo in a protruding area between the taillights, the new images show it has been dropped.
Overall, the design of the rear has been toned down and simplified, with the rear track lights not protruding as much as those on the concept. The huge and aggro rear diffuser on the Neue Klasse has largely disappeared, with the overall effect being less striking but more polished.
Elsewhere, the shape of the mirrors on the camo M3 seems rounder and the arms connecting them to the bodywork aren’t as heavily styled, while the wheels lose the centre-lock design seen on the Neue Klasse in favour of traditional lugs.
Under the skin, the electric M3 is expected to use a sophisticated four-motor drivetrain, with one motor dedicated to each wheel. BMW’s advanced torque-vectoring software will continuously manage power distribution, delivering both enhanced agility and immense performance potential.
Previous BMW demonstrations have suggested the technology is capable of producing up to 1000kW, although production versions are expected to deliver significantly less. Even so, outputs exceeding 500kW appear likely, comfortably making it the most powerful M3 ever produced.
Mini Australia has confirmed the new Countryman Untamed Edition will arrive locally in early 2027, bringing a more adventurous look to the brand’s largest model. Available in both petrol-powered Countryman S and electric Countryman SE forms, the Untamed Edition adds unique exterior and interior details inspired by outdoor equipment and rugged landscapes, but Aussies won’t get the raised ride height and all-terrain tyres on overseas models.
The most obvious changes for the Untamed Edition are on the outside, where it receives a redesigned front grille with a new vertically oriented pattern and angular inserts. A ‘Dark Steel’ finish is applied to the grille surround, Mini badges, Countryman lettering and other exterior details, while new front and rear underbody protection and a newly sculpted rear diffuser give the SUV a tougher look.
Textured matte-black protective films are also fitted to the wheel arches, side sills and bonnet that Mini says the films provide additional protection against stone chips. The Untamed Edition also introduces unique 19-inch ‘Untamed Edition Spoke’ alloy wheels, as well as an Untamed badge on the C-pillar, though overseas versions also get a 15mm ride height raise, all-terrain tyres, an increased towing capacity and an Autohome roof tent.
Five exterior colours will be available, including ‘Hideaway Grey’, ‘Nomad Blue’ and ‘Frozen Nomad Blue’ finishes – the latter of which is Mini’s first production matte colour – alongside ‘Nanuq White’ and ‘Midnight Black’. Buyers can pair these options with either a ‘Glazed White’ or ‘Jet Black’ roof.
Inside, ‘Vescin Nightshade Blue’ sports seats feature perforated upholstery, knitted shoulder and headrest sections and ‘Cornflower Blue’ piping and stitching. The dashboard and door panels use Mini’s knitted material in a special ‘Millennial Melange’ grey and blue finishing, while the regular silver cabin accents have been replaced with Dark Steel colouring.
Cornflower Blue detailing also appears on the steering wheel, while a new centre console storage box incorporates elastic retaining straps “inspired by backpacks and climbing equipment”, according to Mini. Special rubber floor mats and a matching luggage compartment mat are also included, featuring a three-dimensional pattern inspired by natural rock formations.
Mechanically, the Countryman Untamed Edition is available in S form with a 160kW/300Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine or as an SE that uses a 230kW/494Nm dual-motor electric drivetrain with a 66.5kWh battery for a claimed 467km of driving range (WLTP).
“Australian Mini drivers have always valued the freedom to express their individuality through their vehicle. The Mini Countryman Untamed Edition brings that spirit of customisation to life with distinctive design details and a character made for everything from the everyday commute to spontaneous weekend escapes,” said Mini Australia general manager Alexander Brockhoff.
Production of the Mini Countryman Untamed Edition will begin in November 2026, ahead of its Australian arrival in early 2027. Australian pricing, final specifications and a more precise launch date will be announced closer to its arrival.
The Polestar 5 is the clearest demonstration yet of how far the electric brand has come since separating from Volvo in 2017, delivering a brilliant grand tourer capable of giving the Porsche Taycan and Lotus Emeya plenty to worry about. You’ll need to fork out a bit extra to really experience all that it has to offer, though.
More than five metres long and almost unchanged from the striking Precept concept, the 5 is a sleek four-door electric flagship with enormous performance regardless of which version you choose. The Dual Motor produces 550kW and 812Nm, sending drive to all four wheels and launching from 0-100km/h in around 3.8 seconds. The Performance takes things even further, pumping out approximately 650kW and dropping the sprint to about 3.2 seconds.
Both are brutally fast, but outright acceleration isn’t the biggest reason to shell out more for the Performance. Its real party trick is a set of MagneRide adaptive dampers, teamed with a 6mm lower ride height and larger wheels.
In their softest setting, the dampers do a remarkable job of smothering broken surfaces, even on 22-inch wheels, without allowing the big Polestar to become floaty. Firmer settings tighten the body control noticeably, giving the tourer an impressive breadth of ability.
The standard car remains entertaining, with sharp steering, strong brakes and excellent stability, although its ride can become more unsettled over poor surfaces. There’s plenty of stopping power, while adjustable regenerative braking ranges from an engine-braking-like setting to genuine one-pedal operation.
Performance models are capable of around 250km/h, but range will depend heavily on how often you exploit their considerable power. The Performance has a claimed WLTP range of approximately 558km, but gentler driving and the standard Dual Motor should stretch that considerably further.
Charging is a highlight. The 112kWh battery, of which 94kWh is usable, supports DC charging at up to 350kW. Polestar claims a 10 to 80 per cent recharge will take 22 minutes.
Inside, the 5 largely lives up to its flagship billing. Material quality is excellent, the seats are supportive and a huge two-metre panoramic glass roof floods the cabin with light. There’s no conventional rear window, but the digital rear-view mirror works well and visibility is surprisingly good.
The minimalist approach isn’t always successful, however. Too many functions are buried in the central touchscreen, including adjustments for the mirrors and steering wheel. The Android-based infotainment system itself is responsive, with Google Maps, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are other imperfections, including road noise from the wide rear tyres and occasional frustration with the driver-assistance systems, but they don’t undermine what is an impressive debut.
Passenger space is generous thanks to the enormous wheelbase, although Polestar describes the layout as a 4+1 rather than a true five-seater. The raised centre-rear position is best reserved for shorter trips. Boot capacity is a relatively modest 365 litres, supplemented by a useful 62-litre frunk, while braked towing capacity is 1800kg.
The Dual Motor variant is expected to sell for $171,100 before on-road costs when it arrives in Australia, with the Performance version, complete with those wonderful MagneRide dampers, going for $193,100 before on-roads.
The Polestar 5 is fast, luxurious and genuinely entertaining. And while the Dual Motor is hardly lacking, the Performance’s superb MagneRide suspension turns this striking electric GT into a genuine Porsche Taycan rival.
Nissan has taken a slash and burn approach to pricing for its Ariya EV with a stunning offer that applies across the range and cuts the cost to as little as $42,990 driveaway. The eye-catching move comes soon after Tesla shifted the goalposts by dropping the price of its Model Y and Model 3 by up to $3750.
The base-spec Engage usually sells for $55,840 before on-roads. That has now been cut to just $42,990 driveaway, representing a saving of up to $17,500 depending on which state the vehicle is bought in.
Moving up the spec tree, the Advance goes from $59,840 to $44,990 for an immense saving of around $19,800, and the Advance+ drops from $63,840 to $51,990, with customers saving approximately $17,000. The top-of-the-line Evolve usually sells for $71,840 but is now being offered for $60,900, with the saving amounting to just over $16,000.
Nissan says the offer is only available through participating dealerships, and it is open to private buyers but not rental, government or fleet customers. The price cuts apply to new and demonstrator vehicles, and they must be ordered before the end of October, with delivery to take place before November 11. The 10-year/300,000km warranty will be unaffected.
Those huge drops make the Ariya cheaper than some of its biggest rivals in the medium SUV segment, including the Mazda CX-6e and Toyota’s bZ4X, at a time when sales of Nissan’s model have been flagging badly.
The offer also undercuts the Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive, which can now be had for $55,950 before on-roads after Tesla gave customers a $2950 discount – about a five per cent reduction – last week as it seeks to clear existing stock with MY27 upgrades on the way for the Y and Model 3.
Available in four trim levels, the Ariya offers 63kWh and 87kWh battery options, as well as front- or all-wheel drive. With a driving range between 385km and 504km depending on the variant, and fast-charging support up to 130kW DC, the Ariya is designed to suit both urban drivers and those who travel longer distances.
A 10–80 per cent charge takes just 35 minutes using a high-speed charger. Engage and Advance variants produce 160kW and 300Nm, with three Drive Modes (Eco, Standard and Sport), while the Advance+ increases power to 178kW.
The Ford Everest large SUV range has gained another special edition in Australia, with the new Wolftrak model bringing the green-themed treatment previously seen on the Ranger ute to its seven-seat SUV sibling. Available to order now, the Wolftrak effectively succeeds the limited-run Wildtrak offered earlier in 2026, and is based on the mid-range Sport.
Pricing starts at $73,000 driveaway for the Wolftrak equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, while the more powerful 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel version is priced from $79,990 before on-road costs.
The Wolftrak is differentiated from the regular Everest range externally with exclusive ‘Traction Green’ paint, which is a colour that’s also offered on the Ranger Super Duty, while lime green accents feature on the honeycomb grille, exterior badging and decals.
It also gains black exterior detailing, including the 20-inch alloy wheels, bonnet-mounted ‘EVEREST’ lettering and roof. ‘Shadow Black’ and ‘Command Grey’ exterior colours are also available.
The green theme continues inside, where the Wolftrak features leather-accented front seats with Wolftrak branding, contrasting Traction Green stitching and matching accents across the dashboard, air vents and doors.
Ford has also fitted the usually-optional Premium Towing Pack as standard, which adds an integrated trailer brake controller, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and a trailer connection alarm.
Under the bonnet of the Wolftrak, buyers can choose between the 125kW/405Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel introduced to the Everest range as part of its recent update, or Ford’s familiar 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6. A 10-speed automatic is the only available transmission.
2027 Ford Everest pricing (excluding on-road costs):
- Active 2.0L – $58,990
- Active V6 – $66,990
- Sport 2.0L – $68,990
- Wolftrak 2.0L – $73,000 driveaway (new)
- Sport V6 – $76,990
- Tremor V6 – $79,990
- Wolftrak V6 – $79,990 (new)
- Platinum V6 – $82,917
The Ford Everest Wolftrak will enter local Ford dealerships soon.
Chinese car maker Geely has recorded one of the biggest sales increases in the Australian new-car market, with its September result up a staggering 870 per cent compared with the same month last year and a hair off 640 per cent in 2026 so far. That’s according to the latest VFACTS new-car sales figures, which tells us that Geely recorded 4473 sales in September 2026, enough to place it 10th overall in the market.
That result put the relative newcomer ahead of fellow Chinese brand Chery, which recorded 4205 sales, and only narrowly behind MG with 4635. That’s a remarkable rise for the brand, which only launched nationwide in March 2025 with just the EX5 electric medium SUV in its range.
The EX5 remains the Geely’s biggest seller locally and recorded 2008 deliveries during September 2026, which was enough to make it the eighth best-selling vehicle reported through VFACTS for the month.
However, while the EX5 was its best-selling product, both the Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid medium SUV (1254) and EX2 electric hatchback (1211) also contributed to the brand’s impressive sales result with over 1200 registrations recorded for both vehicles.
That gives Geely an unusually even spread of volume across its relatively small range, while the EX5 and EX2 also place the brand in a strong position to capitalise on Australia’s rapidly growing appetite for electric vehicles.
No doubt helping Geely’s sales are that electric vehicles accounted for 24.2 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia during September, which is more than double their 11.3 per cent market share in September 2025. Plug-in hybrid sales also increased, this time by 122.7 per cent year-on-year, placing the Starray EM-i in another rapidly expanding part of the market.
Geely’s Australian sales could climb further in 2027, with the company confirming two additional models for the local market: The Emgrand sedan and Battleship 700 and Monjaro large SUVs. All will feature plug-in hybrid drivetrains locally and will broaden Geely’s local lineup further into new segments.
Almost one in four new vehicles sold in Australia during September 2026 was fully electric, as our nation’s transition away from petrol and diesel cars continues to gather pace. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 24.2 per cent of the Australian new-car market in September 2026, which is more than double the 11.3 per cent share recorded during the same month last year.
The surge in EV sales comes despite Australia’s overall new car market remaining relatively steady with 108,778 vehicles sold during September 2026, which is an increase of 1.8 per cent year-on-year using data from both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council. However, while the total amount of cars registered remained similar, the story behind the numbers looked quite different to how it did just 12 months ago.
For example, plug-in hybrid sales jumped 122.7 per cent compared with September 2025, while conventional hybrid sales also increased 20.7 per cent. Because of that, demand for internal combustion engined vehicles continued to fall significantly as petrol vehicle sales declined 36.2 per cent year-on-year, while diesel sales were down 18.4 per cent.
The September result continues the huge shift seen so far throughout 2026. Battery-electric vehicles now account for 18.9 per cent of the Australian new-car market year-to-date, compared with just 8.1 per cent at the same point in 2025.
The Ford Ranger remained Australia’s best-selling vehicle with 5062 sales, followed by the Toyota RAV4 with 4624 and Tesla Model Y with 4476. BYD also continued its rapid rise, finishing second overall with 8191 sales – behind Toyota’s 17,682 but ahead of Ford on 7592. Kia followed with 5901 sales, ahead of Mazda (5702), Tesla (5654), GWM (5212), Hyundai (5073), MG (4635), Geely (4473) and Chery (4205).
Whether we’ll see electric vehicles hit 25 per cent marketshare or greater is not yet known, but considering the continued influx of cheap EVs onto the market, we’d say that it’s more than likely by the end of 2026.
