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.

BMW has given the first hint that a production version of the next 3 Series wagon is just around the corner.

As part of his final official appearance, outgoing BMW CEO, Oliver Zipse (main and below), presented the first official images of the new 3 Series Touring on screen.

At the launch of the all-new electric i3 sedan, BMW first teased a wagon variant, although this latest hint from Zipse doesn’t reveal if this is the electric i3 Touring, or the internal combustion 3 Series. The latter has yet to be revealed in either sedan or wagon form, but it is tipped to look almost identical to the electric i3, despite running on an unrelated chassis.

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“The 3 Series is more than just a sedan, and it will remain that way in the future,” Zipse explained. “The 3 Series Touring is very popular with families and business customers, which is why we have already confirmed this model.”

With Zipse using the ‘3 Series’ name to refer to the Touring, rather than the i3 name assigned to the electric version, it appears this could be the first glimpse of the combustion-engined replacement for the current 3 Series.

Recently, BMW has expanded its range of wagons, adding a high-performance M3 Touring to its line-up in 2022, the first time an M3 wagon has been officially produced. After brief appearances in the late 1980s and mid 2000s, an M5 Touring was also reintroduced to the range in 2024.

In 2025, BMW’s company-endorsed April Fools’ Day joke centred on the M3 Touring endurance racer. The concept proved so popular that BMW is set to run a version of the M3 Touring, based on a modified M4 GT3 race car, in this year’s Nürburgring 24-hour race.

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For now, the official teaser images reveal only a full-width lighting signature at the rear, and portions of the tailgate, with a rear window aperture that mirrors the form of the tail lights, with angled corners.

The styling cue closely follow thos seen on the i3 sedan and iX3 SUV.

No mention of a high-performance version has been made yet, but the enduring popularity of BMW’s Touring models suggests that, alongside the petrol 3 Series and electric i3, at least one high-performance M Touring could be on the cards.

Renault Australia has announced local pricing and specifications for the new Master large van, which is due in local Renault showrooms from June. Priced from $55,990 plus on-road costs, the new Master will be offered with both diesel and E-Tech electric drivetrains, with the electric variants due in the second half of 2026.

Launched for the first time on Australian soil at April’s 2026 Melbourne Motor Show, the new Master is the first ground-up redesign of the Master in more than a decade with more power, more torque, more safety equipment, and more load-carrying capacity than the model it replaces. The new-generation Master will be available with a choice of mid-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configurations, as well as mid roof and high roof body styles.

Diesel Master variants use a 125kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, which is mated to either a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic transmission. Local fuel economy figures are yet to be confirmed.

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The electric Master E-Tech uses a 105kW/300Nm front-mounted electric motor that draws power from an 87kWh lithium ion battery for a claimed WLTP range of 409km. The Master E-Tech can be recharged at up to 130kW for a claimed 15-80 per cent charge time of as little as 38 minutes.

On the capability front, the diesel Master’s payload is rated from 1811kg to 1923kg, its gross vehicle mass (GVM) is 4000kg, its gross combination mass is 6000kg and its braked towing capacity is 2000kg. The E-Tech’s is a bit less, with a 1084kg to 1164kg payload, 3500kg GVM, 5500kg GCM and 2000kg braked towing capacity.

2026 Renault Master pricing (excluding on-road costs):

• Renault Master MWB diesel standard roof manual: $55,990
• Renault Master MWB diesel standard roof automatic: $59,990
• Renault Master LWB diesel standard roof automatic: $61,990
• Renault Master LWB diesel high roof automatic: $65,990
• Renault Master E-Tech electric MWB standard roof: $77,990
• Renault Master E-Tech electric LWB standard roof: $79,990

Master standard equipment:

• Dusk-sensing automatic headlights
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Three-seat layout
• Underseat storage passenger seats
• Steel bulkhead with window pane behind the front seats
• Left sliding door (steel panel)
• Rear ‘barn’ doors with windows (270-degree opening)
• 10-inch infotainment screen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired and wireless)
• Google Automated Services (E-Tech only)
• Fingertip audio control stalk on steering column
• Gear selector wand on steering column
• 2x USB-C charging ports in the cabin
• 12V power sockets (1x in the cabin and 1x in the cargo area)
• Analogue instrument cluster with 3.5-inch digital information screen
• Paddle shifters on the steering wheel (diesel only)
• Overhead storage console
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane keeping assistance
• Speed-sign recognition
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors

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Optional extras:

• Trade Pack (work office table, external reverse sound, LED cargo lighting, rear step board): $800
• Business Pack (work office table, climate control air-conditioning, LED cabin lighting, sensor key with walk-away locking and push button start): $1000
• Trade and Business Pack (everything from both packages): $1500
• Metallic and premium paint: $900
• Urban grey paint: $500
• Digital rear-view mirror (deletes window in bulkhead): $1300
• Body-coloured front fascia (only with Mineral White, Star Grey, Agave Blue): $150
• Front and side parking sensors (deletes blind spot warning): $500
• Two-seat option on MWB and LWB standard roof diesel automatic models: $400
• Wooden flooring with mid-height cargo area wall lining (MWB): $900
• Wooden flooring with mid-height cargo area wall lining (LWB): $1000
• Wooden flooring with full-height cargo area wall lining (MWB): $1990
• Wooden flooring with full-height cargo area wall lining (LWB):  $2100
• Sliding right door (steel panel): $800
• Left sliding door with window: $300
• Left and right sliding doors with windows: $1300
• Left and right sliding doors with windows and windows in both rear quarter panels: $1600
• Windowless rear ‘barn’ doors (270-degree opening): $0
• Delete steel bulkhead (only available with two-seat option): $0
• Vehicle alarm: $500
• Brake wear indicator: $150

The new generation Renault Master will go on sale in Australia from June 2026.

Mazda has confirmed that the second-generation CX-3 compact SUV was scheduled to go into production in Thailand in 2027, published as part of its 2026 financial results.

The first CX-3 has been in production since late 2014, and has been available in Australia since early 2015. In the 11 years since it has been given periodic minor updates.

The new CX-3 will be built exclusively at Mazda’s Auto Alliance Thailand factory. Currently, the CX-3 is also produced in Mexico, and until 2022 was also built in Japan.

This latest confirmation reveals that, like the CX-5, the CX-3 will continue with its current name and not move to the two-digit SUV naming structure found on the larger CX-30, American market CX-50, and Large Architecture SUVs, including the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90.

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Absent from Mazda’s earnings call was any mention of a new-generation Mazda 2 city car, pointing to the new-generation CX-3 as a single model replacement for both the current Mazda 2 and outgoing CX-3.

Mazda revealed the Vision X-Compact at the 2025 Tokyo motor show (below), providing the strongest hint at what to expect from the design of the new CX-3.

The Vision X-Compact featured short overhangs and a tall roofline, but abandons the six-window glasshouse of the original CX-3, with a closer proportional relationship to the compact Mazda 2, albeit with a taller roofline.

At the time of its reveal, Mazda did not announce what powertrain the Vision X-Compact used, but the 2026 financial report indicates an expansion of Mazda’s internally developed ‘Skyactiv-Z’ hybrid line-up.

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Set to make its first appearance in the CX-5, the Skyactiv-Z hybrid will form part of a multi-energy strategy for Mazda, which will allow the brand to tailor production between electrified, hybrid, and combustion engines, depending on demand.

Like the CX-5 before it, the CX-3 is expected to utilise a modified version of its existing platform (called the Skyactiv-B chassis on the CX-3 and Mazda 2), refreshed to bring it up to date and make it compatible with a hybrid powertrain.

Despite its age, the CX-3 is Australia’s best-selling Light SUV, with 4439 sales to the end of April 2026, ahead of the Toyota Yaris Cross (2731), Suzuki Jimny (2537) and Hyundai Venue (1938).