BYD models including the Shark 6 and Atto 2 have had thousands of dollars lopped off their asking price after the manufacturer announced a range of promotions that can see customers take advantage of cashbacks and drive-away discounts.

The offers apply to the Shark 6 Dynamic and Premium, Sealion 7 Premium, Atto 2 Premium and the Sealion 8 SUV range, and they’re open to buyers who order before the end of September and take delivery before the end of October. BYD’s discounts effectively reduce vehicle prices by waiving the usual on-road costs.

3

That means the biggest saving to be had applies to the Shark 6 Premium, which is now listed at $57,900 drive-away instead of $57,900 plus on-roads – putting buyers in front by approximately $4600. The same formula of dropping the on-roads means the Sealion 7 Premium is $54,990 drive-away, a discount of around $4000, with the Sealion 8 Dynamic front-wheel drive coming in at $56,990 drive-away for a drop of around $4400 for customers in NSW.

While the measures don’t extend to demonstrator vehicles, BYD has said it will “honour the promotional pricing” if customers order within the timeframe but don’t take delivery by the end of October due to circumstances beyond their control. That also applies to buyers who pick up the $2000 cashback offer on the Sealion 8 Dynamic and Premium all-wheel drives, with that offer also running over the same period.

BYD’s other offer lets customers choose between cashback or money they can use on accessories, charging equipment, car care and more. Buyers can get $3000 on the Shark 6 Dynamic and $2000 on the Atto 2 Premium, with terms and conditions applying.

6

The news comes hot on the heels of BYD opening Aussie orders for the 2026 Atto 3 Evo, which comes in Dynamic and Premium form and features a raft of significant mechanical and equipment changes. The Premium switches from front- to rear-wheel drive and gains a larger 74.88kWh battery, with an improved DC charging rate and output jumping to 230kW and 380Nm.

The Evo also gets a style freshen-up front and rear, revised taillights, a driver display that swells from 5.0 to 8.8 inches, redesigned door trim, a 50W wireless phone charger and ambient lighting.

Jaguar has officially revealed the interior of its controversial Type 01 grand touring sedan for the first time. The look follows the minimalist direction that was first previewed in the divisive Type 00 – but somewhat shockingly, shuns the trend towards interiors dominated by screens.

While not completely screen-free, the Type 01 has whittled their presence down to a driver display positioned where a traditional instrument display would live, visible through the steering wheel, but extending closer towards the middle of the car.

3

A secondary screen, likely to be the car’s primary interface, sits on a pod mounted to the cabin-dividing centre console, within reach of driver and passenger. Rather than the cinema-sized displays of some new vehicles, it comes in roughly the same dimensions as a smartphone and is shown solely as an interface for climate and cabin comfort settings.

The tall centre console of the Type 00 coupe remains, with Jaguar claiming the longitudinal spine creates four individual spaces for occupants. While the rear seats aren’t shown in great detail, Jaguar has followed the example set by the Cadillac Celestiq, with no partition or divider between the rear seats and the Type 01’s cargo area.

A full-length glass roof stretches back behind the rear-seat occupants’ heads, but a traditional rear windscreen is absent, suggesting a reliance on rear-view cameras in a similar style to the Polestar 4.

The overall interior theme is closely related to that of the Range Rover GT, with a similar horizontal dash layout and that cabin-dividing centre spine. With the two Tata-owned brands likely aiming for a high level of shared components to keep a lid on costs, it comes as no surprise to see the same steering wheel design, with minor trim differences, used on the new-generation Jaguar and Range Rover.

2

Jaguar’s chosen colour palette for the Type 01’s interior debut features “brass-inspired” finishes on the console and doors, along with “the enduring beauty of travertine stone”. A full breakdown of materials and finishes is yet to be revealed, but the first look shows seats trimmed in a combination of textile and leather (or potentially leather-look) materials, and an emphasis on textured surfaces.

The full reveal of the Type 01 is set to take place in New York in early October. Jaguar will be hoping for a better reception than it received with the calamitous unveiling of the Type 00 in 2024, when its fashion-focused rebirth fell flat.

Don’t be too alarmed if you haven’t heard of the Eccentrica V12 Roadster. Even elite car trivia buffs may have missed this one, although you might know it by its former identity. The new restomod started life as a Lamborghini Diablo Roadster, but has undergone a boutique reinvention at the hands of the San Marino-based outfit.

The Roadster joins a range of past builds that started with the unveiling of the V12 coupe in 2024, which used a closed-roof Diablo as its starting point. More than just an aesthetic overhaul, the V12 Roadster reworks the Lamborghini 5.7-litre V12 engine with a remapped ECU, re-engineered airflow and cooling, sharper throttle response and 410kW of power at 7000rpm, up from around 362kW in its original guise.

4

Crucially, the Diablo’s gated six-speed manual remains, with analogue interactions at the heart of the driver interface. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes a claimed 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 335km/h.

Far more noticeable, though, is the V12 Roadster’s modern restyle. The unmissable and iconic silhouette of the Diablo remains as a starting point, but lines have been sharpened, details finessed, and every aspect of the original design obsessively reworked to look both instantly recognisable and more modern.

The new body, crafted in carbon fibre, cloaks a range of performance-oriented upgrades like hydraulic power steering, hand-tuned semi-adaptive suspension, 380mm front and 345mm rear brakes with Brembo calipers, and a carbon-fibre-reinforced steel spaceframe chassis.

3

The interior features digital instruments, Connolly leather, Alcantara, and exposed carbon-fibre elements. Each V12 Roadster is configured to its owner’s specifications, ensuring no two cars from the planned run of 19 units are the same. Eccentrica’s conversion process used 3540 new components, with everything from LED lighting to the interior layout overhauled in the process.

As for pricing, Eccentrica hasn’t offered any clues yet, but with the coupe version starting at around €1.2 million (A$1.96 million) on top of the price of a suitable donor car, expect something similar, if not higher, for the Roadster.

Australians’ love affair with large US-style pick-up trucks could be having deadly consequences for pedestrians, according to new University of Melbourne research examining local crash data.

The researchers investigated whether the growing number of large light commercial vehicles on Australian roads – including American-style pick-ups such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram – is changing the severity of collisions involving pedestrians.

Their findings indicate pedestrians struck by light commercial vehicles face a significantly greater risk of death than those hit by conventional passenger vehicles.

1

The University of Melbourne researchers analysed Australian crash records and compared outcomes according to the type of vehicle involved. They found light commercial vehicles were associated with a higher likelihood of a pedestrian collision proving fatal, even after accounting for other factors that can influence crash severity.

Vehicle design is considered an important part of the problem. Large pick-ups typically have taller, more upright front ends than passenger cars. In a collision, this means a pedestrian is more likely to be struck higher on the body by the vehicle’s grille and bonnet, rather than around the legs.

That can result in greater forces being transferred to vital areas of the body. Taller vehicles can also push a pedestrian forwards and downwards, increasing the potential for them to be run over, rather than throwing them onto the bonnet.

The Australian findings add local evidence to a body of international research examining the relationship between increasingly large vehicles and pedestrian safety. Previous research into Victorian pedestrian crashes has also shown that vehicle type can have a significant bearing on pedestrian crash outcomes.

The issue is becoming increasingly relevant as full-size American pick-ups become more common in Australia. Vehicles including the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado have established a local market, while the Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra have expanded the number of choices available to buyers.

1

The University of Melbourne researchers argue the results warrant greater consideration of vehicle design in Australian road-safety policy, rather than focusing predominantly on protecting vehicle occupants.

They suggest measures could include stronger pedestrian-impact standards and greater consideration of vehicle front-end geometry.

The research highlights a fundamental trade-off in the trend towards larger vehicles: while their size can provide occupants with a sense of security, that same size and front-end design can increase the consequences for vulnerable road users outside the vehicle.

The Falcon 500 is set to make a comeback. Known to Australian motoring enthusiasts from its use on Ford’s family car from 1966 until 1979, the badge was a mainstay of Ford Australia’s line-up from its first appearance on the XR Falcon until its final appearance on the XC Falcon.

Now the Falcon 500 name is returning, but this time without any input from Ford. In a move that’s sure to enrage more than a few fans of the Blue Oval, Chinese automaker Chery has chosen Chery Falcon 500 as the name for its latest generation of driver-assist and autonomous systems.

3

The new moniker represents the car’s integrated system of self-parking, backtrack reversing (up to 50 metres), automated remote parking, autonomous lane changing, navigate-on-autopilot functionality, and driver-assist functions like autonomous braking, lane-keep assist and more.

As for the car it’s equipped on, the Chery Arrizo 8 Pro is positioned as the flagship sedan for the Chery brand, although the company offers more upscale models from its premium Luxeed brand in China. A recent update to the 8 Pro gives it revised styling and an overhauled interior.

From the outside, it looks a lot like the rear bodywork from the previous-generation Hyundai Sonata, with a face graft that bears some cues from the pre-update current-generation Sonata. 

The mid-size Arrizo 8 Pro measures 4800mm long with a 2790mm wheelbase, making it 120mm shorter than a Toyota Camry, but with a wheelbase that’s only 35mm shorter. Appointments are closer to Lexus than Toyota, however, with 14-speaker premium audio, powered front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, 256-colour ambient interior lighting, and a 15.6-inch infotainment display.

2

Buyers get a choice of a 147kW 1.6-litre or 187kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive standard across the range.

An Australian appearance isn’t entirely out of the question. Chery’s list of priorities sees the new Stockman ute top the list, along with SUVs from its Chery, Omoda, Jaecoo, and Lepas brands, plus upcoming launches for divisions including Jetour and iCaur.

The Arrizo 8 Pro is, remarkably, still under evaluation. Chery has previously suggested it could be one of its future models down under, but has yet to commit to timing and is likely to place more popular SUVs ahead of a traditional sedan in its rollout hierarchy.

BYD’s upmarket Fangchengbao brand has unveiled a new luxury plug-in hybrid SUV to crown its Chinese range.

The Fangchengbao Tai 9, which will adopt the Ti9 moniker in export markets, joins a growing list of high-end full-size luxury crossover SUVs vying for attention in China and looking to secure buyers in international markets.

3

The Ti9 offers impressive dimensions: 5270mm long, 1999mm wide, and 1850mm to 1880mm tall depending on the variant, with a 3130mm wheelbase. That last measurement matches that of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 sold in Australia, but the overall length beats it by 201mm.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain consists of dual electric motors, one at each axle, powered by a 66.5kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. That gives a claimed 310km of electric-only range, albeit with no mention of which test cycle was used, although optimistic CLTC testing is most likely.

A 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, with the ability to top up charge or, in some situations, power the wheels directly, also forms part of the drivetrain system. Figures for the Chinese market suggest 100kW from the engine, with the front and rear motors producing 90kW and 70kW of continuous output respectively. Both motors are rated to a limited-time peak output of 200kW each.

Like the slightly smaller BYD Ti7, which is already on sale in the UK and expected to appear in Australian showrooms, official images show the Ti9 adopts a boxy design language, with prominent bulged guards, black cladding on the sills and wheel arches, and contrasting front and rear bumper inserts.

4

With Fangchenbao also functioning as the sales outlet for cars like the Denza B5 and B8 in China, the Ti9 adopts some cues from those off-road SUVs, but with a more road-biased focus and a monocoque chassis, which limits its off-road potential.

A full list of interior appointments has yet to be announced, but in keeping with the expectations of China’s full-size luxury SUV class, expect 2+2+2 seating with heating, ventilation and massage, a panoramic glass roof, multiple screens throughout the interior, multi-zone climate control, premium audio, an in-car refrigerator, and more.

With BYD’s UK branch offering the slightly smaller Ti7 as a BYD-branded model, it’s possible the Ti9 could be offered through the more upmarket Denza brand as a way to more clearly separate the two models for markets outside of China.

BYD has opened Australian orders for the 2026 Atto 3 Evo, introducing major mechanical and equipment changes to its compact electric SUV ahead of first deliveries in September.

The revised range continues with Dynamic and Premium variants, although the differences between the two are now considerably greater.

The entry-level Atto 3 Evo Dynamic retains front-wheel drive and a 60.48kWh Blade lithium-iron-phosphate battery. Its electric motor produces 150kW and 310Nm, while claimed WLTP driving range is 420km.

1

Pricing

The Premium switches from front- to rear-wheel drive and receives a larger 74.88kWh battery. Output rises to 230kW and 380Nm, reducing the claimed 0-100km/h time to 5.5 seconds, while WLTP range increases to 510km.

A move to an 800-volt electrical architecture also lifts the Premium’s maximum DC charging rate to 220kW. BYD claims a zero-to-80 per cent charge takes 25 minutes. The Dynamic retains a 400-volt system and 110kW DC charging, with the equivalent charge taking a claimed 41 minutes.

AC charging is rated at 7kW for the Dynamic and 11kW for the Premium, while both versions include 3.3kW vehicle-to-load capability.

1

Exterior dimensions and the 2720mm wheelbase remain unchanged, but the Evo receives redesigned front and rear styling, full-width daytime running lights and revised LED tail-lights. Both variants ride on model-specific 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, a column-mounted gear selector frees additional centre-console space, while the driver display grows from 5.0 to 8.8 inches. Other additions include redesigned door trims, ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers and a 50W wireless phone charger.

Heated and ventilated front seats and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat are standard on the Dynamic. Premium adds dual-zone climate control and four-way powered lumbar adjustment.

The Premium’s rear-drive packaging also creates additional storage. Boot capacity increases from 434 to 490 litres with the rear seats in place, while a new 101-litre compartment under the bonnet provides storage for charging cables or other smaller items.

3

Safety changes include child-presence detection and a driver-monitoring system, with the Premium additionally gaining front cross-traffic alert and braking.

Ski White is the standard exterior colour, while Harbour Grey and Cosmos Black cost an additional $600. Premium buyers can also select Atlantis Grey.

BYD says the Atto 3 Evo is available to order now, with Australian deliveries scheduled to start in September.

The bent eight muscle car fans have been clamouring for hasn’t made a comeback in the new Charger Super Bee, but Dodge has given them the next-best thing: the most powerful version yet of its twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline six. 

Dodge is betting that outright performance will win over sceptics who are pining for the V8, with the new Super Bee packing 37kW more punch than the regular Charger Scat Pack and even eclipsing the Ford Mustang GT’s 5.0-litre V8 by 106kW.

4

Power comes from Stellantis’ 3.0-litre twin-turbo ‘Hurricane’ six, which has been reworked with larger Garrett turbochargers, revised intercoolers and an upgraded intake system. That lifts power to 447kW/600bhp and broadens the torque curve, with maximum twist of 720Nm arriving from 3000rpm.

Like the rest of the petrol Charger line-up, the Super Bee is equipped with all-wheel drive as standard. However, drivers can instantly switch to rear-wheel-drive mode via a button – yes, a button, not a screen – for a more traditional muscle car experience.

Dodge strengthened internal drivetrain components to cope with the extra performance, while recalibrated launch control and sharper throttle mapping boost acceleration. The Super Bee is claimed to sprint from 0-97km/h in just 3.6 seconds and blast through the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds.

There’s been a focus on track capability, with a revised cooling package designed to withstand sustained high-performance driving and a redesigned front fascia that increases airflow and generates around 45kg of additional downforce at about 240km/h.

5

Stopping power comes courtesy of a substantial Brembo braking package featuring 406mm front discs clamped by six-piston calipers, with four-piston calipers and matching 406mm rotors at the rear. Dodge claims resistance to brake fade during repeated hard use has markedly improved as a result.

The chassis has also been upgraded with dual-valve adaptive dampers and stiffer suspension components, improving body control and sharpening responses through corners. Forged 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Goodyear tyres complete the package.

Visually, the Super Bee pays tribute to the original 1968 model with unique graphics and model-specific styling details, blending classic muscle car heritage with modern performance technology.

The limited-edition Charger will launch in the US next year in both two-door coupe and four-door sedan body styles.

There are currently no plans for an official Australian release, so local buyers wanting the hottest version of the new Charger will likely need to explore private import options.

A photo of a Bunnings shopper who filled his Mitsubishi to overflowing with strips of turf has left Aussies scratching their heads after it went viral.

The shot, which shows the Outlander stacked with strips of grass filling the back seat to the roof and even being stowed on the roof – but apparently not tied down to the rack – was reportedly taken at the hardware giant’s store in the southern Adelaide suburb of Marion.

2

Aussies couldn’t hide their shock at the photo, with many worrying about how the Mitsubishi was going to deal with the load, or wondering why the shopper didn’t find a better way of taking his purchase home – like using one of Bunnings’ free courtesy trailers.

‘A full pallet [of turf] can weigh 750kg easily. I am fairly sure that’s an Outlander. That poor car. He is going to be cleaning dirt and mud for the next 3 years,’ one reader wrote on Reddit.

‘He literally has a tow bar. Could’ve used one of the complimentary trailers,’ another said.

‘He’s in a Bunnings… he could’ve hired a ute to get it home or bought a tarp to wrap the grass in, at least,’ another commenter wrote.

Another reader suggested the driver could’ve put the rear seats down and fit the load in on top of a drop sheet, while others said it would’ve been better and cheaper to order the turf from a landscaping supplier and get it delivered.

However, the driver also got some support, with one woman writing that he displayed “true Aussie spirit” for getting “the job done ASAP, no mucking about”.

Others took the opportunity to make jokes, labelling the Mitsubishi a “Grasslander”, telling the customer he should’ve “mowed the grass close” to reduce weight, and speculating that he said “I’m not making two trips”.

Car fans who were worried about the structural integrity of the Mitsubishi’s roof might have a point. According to Aussie supplier The Turf Farm, an average 50-square-metre pallet weighs between 700kg and a tonne.

BYD has lived up to its reputation for speedy model development by unveiling the replacement for the Seal 07 all-electric sedan just five months after the current one was launched. 

At first glance, an increase in size is the most striking change to the new version of the marque’s competitor for the Mazda 6e and Tesla Model 3. Images and details revealed in BYD’s filing to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show the updated 07 is 85mm longer and 50mm wider than the current model. 

4

That gives it dimensions of 5080mm in length, 1960mm in width and 1495mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2960mm, making the new Seal 07 noticeably longer than the 6e and Seal 6 sedan.

That filing to MIIT lists battery-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the new sedan, with two powertrain variants breaking cover. The lower-powered option makes 245kW from a rear-mounted motor to shift a kerb weight of 1975kg, with its uprated counterpart developing 300kW with a kerb weight of 2060kg. 

Claimed top speed for both of those versions is 240km/h, but details on battery capacities and ranges have not been revealed. 

The current Seal 07, with a kerb weight of 1940kg, runs a rear-mounted electric motor making 240kW, with energy supplied by a 69.07kWh Blade battery pack. When it was launched, official filings gave the car a 200km/h top speed with energy consumption of 10.8kWh/100km, and a CLTC-rated range of 705km.

A 115kW, 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine combined with a 160kW electric motor powers the PHEV version of the upcoming Seal 07. That is fed by a 38.03kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

4

The new Seal 07’s looks appear to borrow cues from the Seal 08, with split headlights, partially hidden door handles, a single taillight unit stretching across the width of the rear, and the bonnet sloping sharply down away from the windscreen.

Just like the 07 released in March, there is no indication on when or if the new version will go on sale down under, where the Seal is BYD’s best-selling sedan.

And the reason for the rush to update the model? It could be down to the previous 07’s sales struggles, with CarNewsChina branding it a “flop” after only 627 were sold in China in June.