Mercedes-Benz will add limited numbers E300 AMG Night Edition and AMG E53 Hybrid Dark Carbon Edition variants to the E-Class range in Australia.

The E300 Night Edition gains 21-inch wheels for the first time, with a machined face and black-painted infill sections, along with Night Package exterior finishes that see the window surrounds and sill panel trims finished in gloss black.

The AMG Line grille retains a chrome surround and chrome star-pattern inserts, contrasting with the black finishes on the rest of the Night Package design.

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To mark its limited-run status, the E300’s 14.4-inch infotainment screen displays a ‘special edition’ logo, while other interior appointments, like leather-trimmed AMG Line sports seats with heating and ventilation, carry over from the E300.

As with the regular E300, power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, producing 190kW and 400Nm. A nine-speed automatic sends drive to the rear wheels.

Pricing for the E300 AMG Night Edition starts from $129,400 plus on-road costs, making it $2600 more affordable than the regular E300.

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Dark Carbon Edition adds the normally optional AMG Night Package II black exterior option, including dark chrome finishes for the grille bars, door handles, boot garnish, and badging, but leaves a chrome inner ring for the grille and a chrome front star badge. Window frame surrounds and sill panel inserts are also coloured black.

The Dark Carbon Edition comes equipped with 21-inch AMG forged alloy wheels, with a black fascia and machined rim, in place of standard 20-inch wheels. 

The Dark Carbon name is derived from the interior finish, with a carbon-fibre centre console fitted as standard, normally a $4615 option. Despite the availability of optional carbon-fibre mirror caps and a carbon-fibre rear spoiler on the regular E53, neither is available as standard equipment on the Dark Carbon edition.

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The plug-in hybrid E53 carries over its 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine and plug-in hybrid system with up to 100km of claimed range, with combined outputs rated at 450kW and 750Nm. AMG adaptive suspension and all-wheel drive are also standard on the E53 range.

Inside the E53 comes with Nappa leather AMG sports seats, an AMG Performance steering wheel with a Nappa leather-trimmed rim, 17-speaker premium audio, four-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof.

The Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid dark Carbon Edition is priced from $206,900 plus on-road costs, making it $7000 more expensive than the regular E53.

Ram Trucks Australia has added a new entry-level version as part of the MY26 Ram 1500 range. Priced from $109,950 plus on-road costs, the new Ram 1500 Express Black Edition has brought the price of entry into the 1500 range down by around $30,000 compared to the next-level-up Laramie Sport. The 1500 Express Black Edition is due in local Ram Trucks showrooms from June.

Black detail highlights for the Express Black include the 20-inch alloy wheels, grille, badging, door handles, mirrors and ‘power bulge’ sports bonnet.

Other standard features include automatic LED exterior lighting, keyless entry with push button start, an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker audio and safety features like autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

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Under the bonnet of the MY26 Ram 1500 Express Black is the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six Hurricane engine featured elsewhere in the 1500 range, in this case making a strong 313kW of power and 635Nm of torque. It comfortably eclipses the 291kW/556Nm outputs of the former 5.7-litre Hemi V8 in the Big Horn it replaces, but with superior fuel economy – the upper-spec Laramie Sport is rated at 10.7L/100km on the combined cycle, with exact figures for the Express Black yet to be confirmed.

Like other 1500 variants, the Express Black Edition is a very capable towing machine with a 4500kg braked towing capacity (with a 70mm tow ball), while its maximum payload is 1014kg, its Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is 3505kg and its Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is 7711kg.

“The Ram 1500 Express Black Edition brings a new entry price to the updated MY26 Ram 1500 Series,” said Jeff Barber, General Manager, Ram Trucks Australia. “With the Ram 1500 Express Black Edition we have reduced the price gap between mid-size utes and our full-size Ram 1500 range. Our customers have been asking for a package like this and we’re pleased to be able to deliver it.”

2026 Ram Trucks Australia lineup pricing (excluding on-road costs):

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Ram 1500 Express Black Edition standard equipment:

• ‘Power bulge’ sports bonnet
• Black grille
• Black badging
• Black side mirror caps
• Black door handles
• Black exhaust tips
• Black side steps
• Black 20-inch wheels
• Body-coloured bumpers
• Spray-in bed liner
• Damped tailgate
• ‘Kick down’ bed step on passenger side
• Power operated sliding rear window port
• Tinted rear windows
• LED headlights and fog lights
• Cargo area light
• Cloth seat upholstery
• Large centre console with internal sliding tray
• 8.4-inch infotainment screen
• 7.0-inch digital instrument display
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker sound system
• Sensor key with push button start and remote start
• 2x rear underfloor covered storage pockets
• Storage space under the rear seats
• Adaptive cruise control
• Forward collision alert with autonomous emergency braking
• Lane-keeping assistance 
• Blind spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Trailer brake control

The Ram 1500 Express Black Edition will enter local Ram Trucks showrooms from next month.

Honda has revealed two new hybrid prototypes – a next-generation Honda sedan (main) and an Acura SUV (below) – as part of a broader plan to launch 15 new hybrid models globally by 2030.

Unveiled during a global Honda business briefing in Japan, the prototypes preview the company’s next phase of electrified vehicles, with a strong focus on North America as demand for hybrids continues to outpace fully electric vehicles in several major markets.

The Japanese carmaker said the new models will introduce an all-new hybrid system and next-generation platform beginning in 2027, with Acura expected to launch its first models using the updated technology within the next two years.

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Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the company would redirect more development and production resources toward hybrids as it accelerates rollout plans.

“We have made steady progress in the development of hybrid vehicle technologies, where Honda has strengths,” Mibe said, adding that hybrids would continue to play a key role in reducing emissions while remaining practical for mainstream buyers.

The next-generation two-motor hybrid system is claimed to improve efficiency by expanding the operating range where the petrol engine works most effectively, while also improving the performance of the electric drive unit. Honda says the new system will deliver more than a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy while cutting hybrid system costs by 30 per cent.

A newly developed electric all-wheel-drive system will also feature in future models, allowing more precise motor control and improved responsiveness.

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The prototypes shown in Japan suggest Honda is preparing a broader shift in design direction, with the sedan adopting a lower, sleeker silhouette than current Honda passenger cars, while the Acura SUV previews a more angular and sporty luxury design.

Honda also confirmed development of a new advanced driver assistance system due from 2028. The system is designed to support steering, acceleration and other driving functions across both highways and urban roads using navigation-guided route assistance.

Alongside the new models, Honda announced plans to expand hybrid production capacity in North America, including upgrades to the Marysville and East Liberty plants in Ohio. All Honda vehicle factories in North America are also set to become capable of producing hybrid vehicles as the company prepares to introduce larger D-segment hybrid models from 2029.

GWM has lifted the covers off the next-generation Haval H6 medium SUV ahead of an early 2027 Australian release date. Despite the current H6 only recently receiving an extensive mid-life facelift with updated styling, new tech and plug-in hybrid drivetrains in 2025, the next-generation H6 introduces improved drivetrains, more in-car technology and a larger body than the current model.

On the outside, the new version of GWM‘s second best-selling model locally receives a new and more modern look with wraparound front and rear lighting units, a sleeker glasshouse and a more raked rear section. It’s also larger than the current model, with its wheelbase of 4780mm length and 2800mm long, 77mm and 62mm longer respectively.

Inside, the new Haval H6 earns a larger 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a huge 14.6-inch touchscreen with the brand’s latest ‘Coffee OS’ software and a more modern dashboard layout. The extra length should account for extra interior space, which will further improve on the already-spacious current H6.

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As for drivetrains, like the current H6, there will be a wide range on offer. In China, 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrols are the petrol options, plus a 1.5-litre turbo hybrid in either front- or all-wheel drive forms and a 1.5-litre turbo plug-in hybrid, again with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The news follows recent confirmation that GWM Australia will add the Jolion Max to the line-up by the end of 2026 to fit in between the Jolion small SUV and H6 mid-sizer. Full Australian details about the new GWM Haval H6 will be revealed towards its early 2027 local launch.

In an outcome that would be almost unfathomable just a few years ago, a luxury carmaker that’s barely been on sale for 12 months has outsold traditional rivals from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

The latest sales results published in China reveal that Maextro – a brand you may not have even heard of – has established a massive sales lead over European rivals. 

The Maextra S800 is one of many cars built via a partnership with tech giant Huawei and an existing carmaker, in this case, JAC – best known in Australia for cut-price dual-cab utes. Maextro first launched in July 2025.

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In April, the Maextro S800 recorded 1142 sales in China, putting it well ahead of the second-placed Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, with 736 sales. The Porsche Panamera rounds out the top three, with 616 sales.

But, there’s a catch. Unlike Australia, where Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach versions of the S-Class are counted as a single model, China counts the two cars separately. With the 521 regular Mercedes-Benz S-Class sales added, Mercedes-Benz topped the charts with 1257 S-Class sales.

Year-to-date sales tell a similar story. The Maextro S800 has recorded 5465 sales to the end of April, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class has 3012 sales to its name, and BMW holds third place with 2976 sales.

Perhaps most surprising is that the much more expensive Maybach version of the S-Class outsells the regular Benz version. With sales of the two combined, Mercedes again comes out on top with 5608 sales, though Maextro is narrowing the gap.

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The Maextro S800 measures 5480mm long, making it 10mm longer than the latest Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. It is available with a choice of EV or PHEV drivetrains.

The S800 EV features a dual-motor drivetrain with 390kW combined, and claimed range of up to 670km based on Chinese testing. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes a claimed 4.3 seconds.

The flagship PHEV version of the S800 produces 635kW from a tri-motor powertrain, backed by a 1.5-litre engine, but acceleration is slightly slower at 4.7 seconds to 100km/h. EV only range is rated at 365km, or 1200km combined.

BYD’s premium arm Denza has opened its second House of Denza space in Sydney, following the successful introduction of the concept in Melbourne. Described as “defining the brand’s unique and personal approach to contemporary luxury with exclusive benefits for Denza owners”, the House of Denza is also a space reserved exclusively for those customers.

According to the brand, the House of Denza spaces offer a “sanctuary for community and culture, for socialising, celebrating, and even wellness, with lounges and environments that feel like home.”

The ownership experiences offered include exclusive and curated events throughout the year, such as bespoke culinary dining events and money-can’t-buy brand immersion experiences overseas.

The space in Sydney includes liberal use of a material synonymous with the city, sandstone, which “connects the space to the city’s architectural heritage, inspired by iconic landmarks including Sydney Town Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral and Queen Victoria Building.”

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Denza says that its vehicle ownership “is as extraordinary as the vehicles themselves”. From the moment customers take delivery of their vehicle complete with a personalised in-dealership ceremony and guided walkthrough. they are welcomed into the House of Denza.

In addition, Denza owners benefit from a six-year warranty, three years of roadside assistance, and prepaid service options that take the guesswork out of ownership costs. With a Guaranteed Future Value program, customers can also drive with certainty knowing what their vehicle is worth down the road, backed by a growing national dealer network.

Denza Australia Chief Operating Officer Mark Harland said the focus is not only on delivering premium new energy vehicles rich in performance and style, but on creating a complete ownership experience. “House of Denza allows us to better support our customers with tailored services, access, and ongoing engagement with the brand.”

The first Australian House of Denza locations are now open in Melbourne at 210 Kings Way, South Melbourne and Sydney at 1/12 Neild Avenue, Darlinghurst.

Subaru Australia has announced price reductions of its two EVs already on sale, with the Solterra now $2000 less expensive and the Trailseeker $4000 less than before. The news comes just after the reveal of Australian pricing of the brand’s third EV to go on sale, the smaller Uncharted, which will land in showrooms from July priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs.

Now priced from $61,990 plus on-road costs for the Solterra and $63,990 +ORC for the slightly larger Trailseeker, Subaru’s EVs are now priced more competitively than before and are actually lower priced than the equivalent Toyota bZ4X and bZ4X Touring twins.

There have been no physical changes to the Solterra and Trailseeker to achieve the price reductions. Both still use a 74.7kWh CATL lithium-ion battery for up to 566km of WLTP range for the Solterra and up to 533km for the Trailseeker.

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All Solterra and Trailseeker models use a dual-motor all-wheel drive set up making either 252kW in the Solterra or 280kW in the Trailseeker, the latter of which is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

While the Solterra has been on the market since March 2024, the Trailseeker is about to launch and the Uncharted will land closely afterwards. The Solterra’s 324 registrations so far in 2026 mark a huge 376.5 per cent improvement on 2025’s numbers.

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2026 Subaru EV pricing (excluding on-road costs):

The updated pricing for Subaru’s electric cars now applies to applicable models, and those who have recently placed orders but are yet to take delivery are encouraged to speak to their sales person about the new pricing.

Getting a driver’s licence is a key milestone for a teen on the way to independent adulthood, but the cost of achieving it varies significantly depending on where you live in Australia. That’s according to new research from professional driving instructor finder EzLicence, which has compared the full licensing journey across all states and territories, including government fees, testing requirements, and the average cost of six driving lessons.

As a result of the survey, South Australia is comfortably the most expensive to secure your driver’s licence, with total licensing costs exceeding $1300 when including driving lessons and multiple test stages. Queensland follows with a $957.20 cost, followed closely behind by New South Wales at $940.05.

In contrast, South Australia’s neighbour Victoria is the cheapest state for obtaining a driving licence at $558.52, with the lowest overall fees and additional savings from safe driver incentives. When also adjusted for income, South Australia remains the least affordable state, while the Northern Territory and Victoria are, comparatively, the most accessible for young drivers.

Driving lesson prices vary quite a bit across Australia, and the differences between regions are just as important as state averages. Adelaide is the most expensive region nationally at $113.58 per hour, sitting well above the national average of $80.31. This points to fewer instructors and tighter availability – and plus the state’s already high licensing fees.

New South Wales shows a notable pattern where regional areas are often more expensive than Sydney itself, while at the more affordable end, Melbourne ($75.52) sits below most other major capitals, while Hobart ($73.52) is the least expensive capital city.

Other areas of EzLicence’s survey included the time required to obtain a full licence nationally, ranging from just 2.5 years to up to five years. Victoria has the longest pathway at a minimum of five years for drivers under 21. At the other end of the scale, the Northern Territory has no mandated minimum supervised driving hours, as well as the shortest minimum pathway to a full licence at two and a half years.

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The difference in cost for driving lessons for automatic transmissions versus manual was also examined, with South Australia again the most expensive at $688.24 more than automatic, or more than double the price, making it by far the most expensive state for manual learners.

“When you look at the full picture, it becomes clear that the cost of getting a licence in Australia is driven far more by driving lessons than by government fees alone, with lessons making up the biggest share of the total expense in most states,” said Ross Rivalland, Sales Manager at EzLicence. “As more learners are responsible for covering these costs themselves, the financial pressure can add up quickly.”

The full EzLicence survey is available to view here.

Subaru Australia has revealed pricing and specifications for its new Uncharted electric small SUV, which will go on sale locally soon. Priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs, the Uncharted will serve as Subaru’s smallest electric vehicle, sitting below the Solterra (from $63,990 +ORC) and Trailseeker (from $67,990 +ORC) SUVs, and gives the brand another electric option in the market.

At launch at least, just one Uncharted model will be available in Australia. Simply called Uncharted AWD, a 74.7kWh lithium ion battery made by CATL is the only available battery and it can be DC fast charged at up to 150kW for a 10-80 per cent charge in as little as 30 minutes. The Uncharted’s range is rated at 522km on the WLTP cycle.

Australian Uncharted models will feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive system as standard, making 252kW of power, enough for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.0 seconds. That makes the Uncharted one of the quickest Subaru models ever.

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Off-road features from ICE Subaru models, like the brand’s ‘X-Mode’ off-road traction control systems, hill descent control, an off-road 360-degree camera and 211mm of ground clearance, feature as standard on the Uncharted.

2026 Subaru Uncharted pricing (excluding on-road costs):

• Uncharted AWD: $59,990

Uncharted options:

• Panoramic roof: $1200
• Panoramic roof and two-tone paint: $2400

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Uncharted standard features:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Keyless entry with push button start
• Electric tailgate
• Synthetic leather upholstery
• 10-way electric front seats with driver’s memory functionality
• Heated front and outboard rear seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Multi-colour LED ambient lighting
• 7.0-inch digital driver’s display
• 14-inch touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• Dual wireless phone chargers
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Digital rear mirror
• Eco, normal and sport driving modes
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) 220V/1500W power outlet
• X-Mode off-road modes
• Hill descent control
• Subaru Safety Sense, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, adaptive lane guidance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit assist, driver attention monitoring and auto high beam
• 360-degree camera

Hyundai is set to take driving thrills from the road to the virtual world with the launch of an official Hyundai N Racing Simulator.

Rather than a fully in-house development, Hyundai has teamed up with gaming industry experts for the virtual side of things, but the physical experience has a distinctly Hyundai flavour.

Two grades of Hyundai N simulator will be available, with a Racer version as the entry-level model, or an upgraded Pro version as the range topper.

Regardless of which you opt for, both feature N Light Sport seats from overseas versions of the i30 Sedan N, to give an authentic Hyundai driving feel.

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The steering and pedals come from Logitech, with an RS50 System steering wheel featuring the Hyundai N logo in place of the usual Logitech branding. A set of Logitech RS pedals is also included, with full adjustment for the seat position, pedal position, and steering wheel height.

LG provides the displays, with a 65-inch OLED screen on the Racer and an LG UltraFine G OLED Pro display on the Pro version, with a 120-hertz refresh rate, and 4K UHD resolution. The gaming system itself is also different between the two versions, with a Sony PlayStation 5 equipped on the Racer, and a PlayStation 5 Pro on the Pro model.

Using the Gran Turismo 7 game engine, real-world vehicle data is used to provide a true-to-life driving experience.

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Hyundai’s recent marketing activity has seen a push towards virtual racing at all levels. In 2025, Hyundai cars were added to KartRider Rush+ and Asphalt Legends Unite, with the aim of creating a new generation of young Hyundai enthusiasts. Later that year, Hyundai became the first automotive brand to have a solo display at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, featuring the Insteroid concept.

The Hyundai N Racing Simulator has been selected as the official sim-racing equipment for the South Korean team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where sim-racing is an official event alongside traditional events like athletics, swimming, cycling, and more.

Pricing for the Hyundai N Racing Simulator starts from 9 million won (A$8330) for the lower-spec Racer, or 13 million won ($A12,030) for the high-end Pro version in South Korea.