WhichCar By Wheels

About 18 months before the Y62 Nissan Patrol launched, Nissan’s then media manager made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He knew I was headed to the US to cover the mega SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show in Las Vegas, and wanted me to get behind the wheel of the Nissan Titan pickup. “I want you to get a sense of what the engine’s about,” he said.

That 5.6-litre V8 was soon to become not just the motivation for the Patrol that would go on sale locally, but also the basis of Nissan’s short-lived entry into the V8 Supercar championship. And what an engine it was. The Titan I drove from LA to Las Vegas and back was fitted with a factory performance intake and sports exhaust, and sounded like a banshee howling at redline, matched only by the evocative burble at low rpm. It was, as the best V8 engines have always been, brilliant.

Fast forward to 2026, and it’s fast approaching the time where we say goodbye to that iconic V8. Think of where V8s have become popular, what they have powered, their flexibility and longevity, and its hard to argue there’s a more significant internal-combustion engine in automotive history. And the Patrol’s 5.6-litre is one of the best.

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Not long after that experience with the Titan in the US, I was lucky enough to test (off-road) a LHD version of the Patrol brought out to Australia for final evaluation. Finally, Nissan fans had a flagship 4WD that could compete on a level playing field with Toyota’s all-conquering LandCruiser. And compete it did, remaining popular even as it nears its end having been taken to every dusty corner of the Australian continent, just as the best 4WDs should be.

Shortly after Nissan closes the doors on its production, so too will Premcar, the Aussie business that tweaks the Patrol to produce its own Patrol Warrior version. Toughened up and modified in the way the off-road community would do, its a track-ready touring 4WD with full factory warranty.

For Nissan, and fans of the brand, the question turns to what next? Much was made of Toyota’s move from V8 power to V6 power for its iconic LandCruiser. By much, I mean a hell of a lot of negativity. Speak to a Toyota fan and they’ll tell you the greatest engine ever assembled (of all time, anywhere on earth) is a variation of the final inline six diesel that powered LandCruiser in this country. Those same fans who lamented the introduction of the V8, however, then bemoaned the end of the V8 – especially for the 70-Series, which was to get – shock, horror – a four-cylinder.

How much difference do you reckon that’s made to Toyota’s sales? Almost none. The 300-Series remains popular despite the eye-watering price, and the 70-Series continues to quite literally chug away in every corner of the continent regardless of what’s under the bonnet. In other words, if you’re a Toyota fan and you want either a flagship off-roader, or rugged 4WD, you’re buying one, regardless of the engine.

Nissan will be hoping the same thing happens with the next Patrol, which will be powered by a 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired to a nine-speed automatic. With 317kW and 700Nm, there’s little doubt the new fire-breather, derived from the GT-R, has enough mumbo to do what Patrol buyers will want.

Is it more efficient than the naturally-aspirated V8 in the real world? Probably not, but it doesn’t matter as perception is all the rage in these environmentally conscious times, and a V6 ‘seems’ better than a V8.

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The way I look at it, thanks to its popularity you can still buy a V8 Patrol if that’s what you really want. They will always be available on the second-hand market. But the inevitable had to happen, whether we like it or not, and the marching of time means the V8 was always headed for the exit door in this instance.

Nissan’s Patrol has, since the launch of the Y62, always seemed like remarkably good value. Even as prices rose, the level of standard equipment and the comfort you got for the price tag ensured it always felt like genuine value for money. Here’s hoping the Y63, powered by a different engine as it may be, maintains the status quo.

Australian pricing and specifications for the Forthing Taikon 5 electric and range-extender hybrid medium SUV have been announced ahead of the first deliveries commencing later this month. Priced from $36,990 driveaway in hybrid form and $38,990 driveaway for the electric variant, the Taikon 5 is the first model from newcomer Chinese brand Forthing, which is part of the Dongfeng Motor Group. Forthing is launching in Australia backed by Ateco Group, which also imports Ram Trucks, Maserati, Renault and LDV products locally.

Two powertrain options will be sold in the Australian-spec Taikon 5: Either a range-extender plug-in hybrid like the Leapmotor C10 or a fully-electric version with up to 437km of WLTP-rated range. The range-extender combines a 75kW/130Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a 120kW/420Nm electric motor driving the front wheels.

The engine never directly powers the wheels, instead, acts as a generator to charge the 31kWh LFP battery once it’s been drained. Charging the Taikon 5 REEV can be done at up to 40kW (DC) or 3.5kW (AC), with a claimed 30 to 80 per cent fast charge time of approximately 30 minutes. The claimed WLTP electric range of the Taikon 5 REEV is an impressive 170km, and its total claimed range is 937km.

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Meanwhile, the electric Taikon 5 uses a 150kW/340Nm front-mounted electric motor that draws power from a 64kWh LFP battery. It can be DC fast charged at up to 80kW and a 30 to 80 per cent fast charge takes a claimed 30 minutes, while the Taikon 5 BEV’s claimed WLTP range is 437km.

Measuring 4600mm long, 1860mm wide, 1700mm tall and riding on a 2715mm long wheelbase, the Taikon 5 is sized similarly to the Geely EX5, which is one of its closest competitors. The Taikon 5 REEV’s kerb weight is 1820kg, with the BEV adding 100kg to that.

Ateco has also announced Forthing’s local warranty, which sees its products covered for seven years or 200,000km (whichever comes first). The Taikon 5’s service intervals are 12 months/15,000km (whichever occurs first) for the range extender, and 12 months/20,000km (whichever occurs first) for the BEV, with pricing yet to be announced.

2026 Forthing Taikon 5 pricing (driveaway):

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Forthing Taikon 5 Luxury standard features:

Taikon 5 Exclusive model adds to Luxury:

Calls for a more uniform approach to road user funding have emerged as part of a NSW Government inquiry into its proposed road user levy.

At present, the NSW Government has proposed that electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) should be charged per kilometre to account for the impact on road maintenance.

Currently, fuel excise on petrol and diesel contributes to general revenue collected by the Federal Government and distributed for federally funded infrastructure, including road maintenance. The system, currently, does not directly fund roads based on fuel excise revenue collected.

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With EVs avoiding traditional fuelling, and PHEVs theoretically using liquid fuels at a reduced rate, the NSW government has proposed that new energy vehicles should be charged at 2.974 cents per kilometre for EVs (including hydrogen fuel cell EVs) and a slightly lower 2.379 cents/km for PHEVs.

The Victorian Government trialled a similar user-pays system, introduced in 2021. A two-year legal challenge eventually saw the charge deemed unconstitutional by the High Court of Australia, which found the charge functioned as an excise – a levy that can only be implemented at a federal, not state, level.

In order to avoid a similar outcome, the NSW inquiry is seeking alternatives that would allow the road user charge to come into effect.

Among the proposals, a universal road user charge, which would be based on vehicle weight and charged according to distance driven. This new charge would, however, take the place of fuel excise.

In that instance, fuel – taxed equally across the country – would become markedly cheaper in NSW unless all states and territories agreed to adopt similar systems. The change would then switch the federally collected revenue model to a state-based system.

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The proposal has the support of the NRMA, which sees a road user fee as a way to balance the road funding model without stifling EV adoption.

The Electric Vehicle Council, meanwhile, claims the opposite and has proposed that an EV user charge not be implemented until EVs make up 30 per cent of Australia’s national vehicle fleet. Currently, EVs represent around 2 per cent of vehicles nationally, with the proposed tipping point expected to take another 10 years.

At present, the NSW road user charge is proposed with a start date of July 1, 2027, but the inquiry is ongoing and set to resume from July 29, 2026.

To commemorate 75 years in the UK, Porsche has unveiled a limited edition version of the 911 GT3 with bespoke styling touches.

Based on the 911 GT3 with Touring Package, a 51-car run of the Earls Court 51 Edition model will be available to British buyers.

The design is a callback to Porsche’s original 356 model, resulting in the selection of the more toned-down styling of the GT3 Touring, not to mention its availability with a manual transmission.

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Another connection to the first showing of the Porsche brand at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show is the choice of colour, with a uniquely developed Earls Court Green metallic connecting the modern car to one of the six 356s first presented at the motor show.

Other styling details for the GT3 Earls Court 51 Edition include bonnet stripes, door handles, and mirror caps in Brilliant Silver, ‘Earls Court 51’ badging on the engine cover and B-pillars, two-tone GT3 wheels in Earls Court Green with a painted Brilliant Silver facing, gloss black brake calipers, a body colour-matched front apron, special edition LED puddle lamps, HD-matrix LED headlights and a special indoor car cover featuresing the Earls Court Edition logo.

On the inside, Porsche has trimmed the Earls Court 51 Edition cars in Night Green and Chalk Beige leather, fitted adaptive sports seats with corduroy inserts and embossed Earls Court logos, and fitted wood dashboard trim with the ‘Earls Court 51 Edition’ motif.

Other interior changes include a matching Night Green owners manual sleeve, dashboard trim with an embossed 356 silhouette, Union Jack motifs on the sun visors, illuminated door sills with ‘GT3 Earls Court 51 Edition’ wording, and a wood-topped gear lever.

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As well as the custom-configured vehicles, owners will also be presented with a Porsche Design Chronograph watch, featuring a dial inspired by the instruments from a 356, a matching Night Green Weekender soft bag, a 1:18 scale model of the 911 GT3 Earls Court 51 Edition, and a coffee table book detailing the development and build process for the special edition model.

Porsche Cars GB will also unveil a restored 1951 356, similar in specification to the cars presented in 1951.

The car itself has previously been displayed at Porsche’s UK head office and belonged to British racing driver Betty Haig. The left-hand drive model was first imported to the UK in the 1950s, finished in silver with a red leatherette interior.

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Porsche has modified the car, now finished in Earls Court Green, with a Night Green and Chalk Beige interior plus a wooden gear lever and wood trim on the doors designed to align with the look of the anniversary special editions.

Suzuki Australia has announced a new special edition Jimny Rhino, which is now available to order in Australia. The Rhino is based on the five-door XL model and it adds a number of cosmetic upgrades compared with the standard model. Priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs, the Rhino asks $7500 more than the standard XL, and a full $13,000 more than the entry-level Jimny Lite.

The headline feature of the Rhino is the ‘Kinetic Yellow’ paint colour, which isn’t available on the regular XL, and is the only available colour option for the Rhino, paired with a black roof. There are unique decals on the sides of the Rhino, with “exclusive Rhino-themed side decals featuring a charging rhino motif accompanied by twin stripes that sweep rearward from the iconic Rhino logo.” The ‘サイ’ at the rear is the word rhino written in Japanese script.

Other exterior features include new 15-inch alloy wheels, satin silver side skirt and front bumper trims, a “heritage” front grille that’s available on other Jimny models as a dealer-fit accessory, mud flaps, a rhino badge on the rear and even LED puddle lamps.

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Inside, there are also upgrades to the Rhino, including black leather trims on the door handles and grab handles, a laser-etched Rhino logo and silver accents on the air vents and gearbox surround. Manual models also gain a retro-design shifter.

There is also LED ambient lighting — which can be set to the same Kinetic Yellow as the exterior colouring — as well as a four-speaker Pioneer audio upgrade and rubber floor mats.

Finally, each Jimny Rhino will also receive a ‘Rhino Go Pack’ with merchandise including:

The Rhino’s new equipment is in addition to the standard features on the Jimny XL, which include dusk-sensing automatic LED headlights, remote central locking, heated/electric-folding mirrors, single-zone automatic climate control, a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and a reversing camera. The automatic also features adaptive cruise control.

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Because the Rhino gives no mechanical upgrades to the standard Jimny, the 75kW/130Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine remains unchanged, as does its part-time four-wheel drive system and either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission options.

2026 Suzuki Jimny pricing (plus on-road costs):

Lite 3-door 5-speed manual$31,990
Jimny 3-door 5-speed manual$33,990
Jimny 3-door 4-speed automatic$36,490
XL 5-door 5-speed manual$34,990
XL 5-door 4-speed automatic$37,490
Rhino 5-door manual$44,990 (new)
Rhino 5-door automatic$47,490 (new)

The Suzuki Jimny Rhino is now available to order, except in Queensland and Northern New South Wales, where the company uses a different distributor.

A significant update for the Geely EX5 electric mid-size SUV has been revealed through the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology with updated styling, more power and even a switch to a rear-wheel drive drivetrain that replaces the current model’s front-wheel drive layout. It’s yet to be confirmed for markets outside of China, though given the popularity of the current EX5 in Australia, we’re expecting it to launch locally eventually.

Outside, the updated EX5 sports new front end styling with a new bumper design for a bolder and more characterful look. The side air intakes have been made larger than the current model, and a satin chrome finish has been added as well.

There are new alloy wheel designs in both 18- and 19-inch sizing, while the EX5 has also gained regular door handles to comply with new Chinese regulations banning the pop-out handles that feature on the current EX5. At the rear, the EX5 is largely unchanged, aside from the Geely name now spelt underneath the tailights.

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We can also spot a LiDAR sensor on the roof, which suggests that the EX5 will gain a Level 3 autonomous driving system in its home market, but that likely won’t spread to the Australian market.

Under the skin, the EX5 has gained a new 245kW motor, which is a lot more powerful than the current 160kW unit, and it’s now located on the rear axle and not the front. Geely is yet to confirm if the bump in power will improve acceleration, but the top speed has reportedly risen from 175km/h to 200km/h.

The Chinese documents did not confirm battery sizes, but the current EX5 uses 68kWh battery in Australia with a claimed WLTP range of between 450km and 475km. Smaller 50kWh and 60kWh batteries are offered in overseas market EX5s as well.

Geely Australia is yet to comment on the updated EX5 and if it will be sold locally, but we’d be surprised if we didn’t see it before the end of 2026.

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer, with the former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter sharing the news during the latest season of Clarkson’s Farm.

The 66-year-old disclosed the diagnosis during an emotional conversation with farm manager Kaleb Cooper in one of the final episodes of the Amazon Prime series.

Clarkson explained that the cancer was discovered following medical testing earlier this year and described it as aggressive, although detected at an early stage.

“I’ve got cancer,” Clarkson told Cooper while discussing the year’s farming challenges.

According to Clarkson, doctors identified the illness after he underwent a biopsy following a medical examination. He said treatment would likely take place during a critical period on the farm, creating further challenges during an already difficult year.

Jeremy Clarkson
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The diagnosis comes after a series of well-publicised health issues for Clarkson. In late 2024, he revealed he had undergone heart surgery after experiencing symptoms linked to coronary heart disease, a condition he also referenced during the Clarkson’s Farm episode.

“So we started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer,” Clarkson said.

The television personality was recently the subject of the Wheels Interview, talking about the continued success of Clarkson’s Farm and his evolving relationship with motoring, farming and life away from television’s traditional studio environment. The series has become one of Amazon’s biggest global hits, introducing Clarkson to a broader audience beyond the automotive enthusiasts who first came to know him through Top Gear.

Clarkson said he had been aware of the diagnosis since May and was hopeful treatment would be successful, with further medical testing scheduled to monitor his progress.

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Ahead of the release of the final episodes, Clarkson warned viewers they would be markedly different from the show’s usual tone.

“Ordinarily, we try to keep the show light and cheerful,” he said in a video shared on social media. “The final two episodes are a difficult watch.”

Clarkson’s Farm has become known for its mix of humour, agricultural challenges and personal moments, but the latest season is set to reveal one of the most significant challenges Clarkson has faced both on and off screen.

Nissan is set to adopt a dramatically shorter development cycle for its upcoming 14th-generation Skyline sedan.

The new Skyline, first announced with a teaser image in April 2026 (main), is set to be revealed as a production preview by the end of this year or early in 2027, according to Nissan CEO, Ivan Espinosa.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Esinposa revealed that the Skyline would be revealed during the coming Northern Hemisphere winter (December to February), thanks to an accelerated development cycle. To do so, design and testing have been overhauled with the use of emerging technologies.

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“A big part of this is built on AI capabilities and the utilisation of new tools, more digital tools in the design phase, in the testing phase, in the manufacturing phase,” Espinosa said.

As part of a major restructure to return the brand to profitability, announced in 2025, Nissan pledged to trim average vehicle development timelines from 37 months to 30 months. In the case of the new Skyline, Nikkei Asia reports that the previous generation’s 55-month development has been cut to just 26 months.

Nissan’s accelerated development strategy stems from its joint venture program with Chinese automaker Dongfeng. The Nissan N7 sedan, with development led by Dongfeng, took just two years.

“China is, as of now, setting the industry standards of the future in terms of technology, in terms of cost competitiveness and in terms of development time,” Espinosa said.

The outgoing Skyline, which was sold in Australia as the Infiniti Q50 between 2014 and 2019 (below), has now been in production for 12 years – almost twice as long as a traditional passenger car model cycle.

infiniti q50 sport
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Its replacement is rumoured to adopt the twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan Z coupe, itself a development of the engine from the current Q50 Red Sport, bringing the possibility of a manual transmission, though it will likely be reserved for a flagship Nismo version rather than fitted across the range.

Although not yet fully revealed, Nissan has hinted that the new Skyline will take cues from models of the past, most prominent of which are the four circular tail lights seen through the model’s past iterations.

The name of Chery’s first Australian ute, formerly known as the KP31, has finally been revealed after a public competition to decide on a locally relevant moniker.

To be known as the Stockman, the name was submitted by Victorian Steve Kodikara, who will receive a free Stockman when it becomes available. The name received over a quarter of votes when the final eight names were put to the public to choose their favourite. The Stockman is due to launch in Australia before the end of 2026.

According to Chery, the name is inspired by the “resilience, dependability and hard-working spirit of Australia’s stockmen” and “reflects the characteristics Chery believes define its first ute: capability, endurance and versatility across a wide range of Australian conditions.”

“I’m incredibly honoured that Stockman was chosen from the thousands of entries submitted to title Chery’s new ute,” said Kodikara.

“I felt the name captured the spirit of Australia’s original workhorse and everything a ute should represent: reliability, capability and resilience. I’m glad it resonated with Australians, and I’m thrilled to see it become part of Chery’s story.”

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“The response to this competition exceeded our expectations and showcased just how passionate Australians are about utes,” said Lucas Harris, Chief Operating Officer, Chery Australia. “Stockman stood out because it captured something uniquely Australian while reflecting the capability, reliability and innovation behind our upcoming ute. Steve’s submission brought the name to life through a compelling story, connecting Australia’s heritage with the next generation of ute technology.”

Stockman emerged from a shortlist that included Outrider, Orca, Ironbark, Bushwalker, Longreach, Ridgeback, Terra and Mate. It ultimately received more than 25 per cent of votes cast by over 12,000 Australians during the public voting phase.

As announced earlier in 2026 when it was revealed, the Stockman will be the first ute on the Australian new car market to offer a diesel plug-in hybrid drivetrain, with a petrol PHEV variant due later on.

More details about the Chery Stockman will be announced closer to its market launch in late 2026.

The 2027 Audi A6 allroad quattro has made its international debut, marking the fifth iteration of Audi’s SUV-styled crossover wagon.

Based on the 2026 A6 Avant wagon, the A6 allroad takes a more rugged approach with air suspension that sits 35mm higher than the regular A6 at its normal height. The adaptive system features 55mm of height adjustment, 25mm greater than the A6.

The A6 allroad also features beefier widebody styling, some 111mm wider than the car it’s based on and 84mm wider than the previous A6 allroad. The aggressive styling gives a strong hint at what Audi has in store for the high-performance RS7 Avant.

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The off-road styling is further differentiated with slim wheel arch extensions, large bumper trims front and rear, and notched side sills available in black or with silver and aluminium highlights. Alloy wheels from 19 inches up to 21 inches are available with tyres ranging from 265/45 R19 to 285/35 R21 in size, the latter aimed at on-road dynamics rather than off-road traction.

From launch, two powertrains will be offered. The entry-level option is a 220kW/580Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 with mild hybrid, while plug-in hybrid will be optional on the allroad for the first time, with a 270kW/500Nm claimed combined output from a 185kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and 105kW electric motor.

Acceleration from 0-100km/h in the hybrid takes a claimed 5.5 seconds, with up to 95km of WLTP electric-only range and fuel consumption from 2.6 to 2.9L/100km when fully charged or 7.2 to 7.7L/100km once the hybrid battery is depleted. The 3.0-litre V6 has a slightly quicker 5.4-second sprint to 100km/h and has a claimed fuel use of 5.8 to 6.4L/100km depending on specifications.

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Audi has overhauled the steering for a more direct feel with a stiffer mounting path between the steering wheel and front wheels. The A6 allroad comes standard with progressive rate steering, and the plug-in hybrid features standard four-wheel steering, which is optional on the diesel.

Brake-by-wire with blended braking removes the physical connection between the brake pedal and brake booster to allow a greater range of regenerative braking for both the mild-hybrid and PHEV versions. Regenerative braking is used in most situations, with physical braking now reserved for emergency stops. Up to 25kW can be harvested by the mild-hybrid and 88kW by the PHEV.

The interior of the A6 allroad follows the design direction set by the regular A6 range, including an 11.9-inch digital instrument display, 14.5-inch infotainment, and an optional 10.9-inch passenger screen.

The system can be accessed via the touchscreen, capacitive buttons on the steering wheel, or through voice commands with ChatGPT integration. Outside of the navigation and infotainment, voice control also allows some driver-assist functions, like adaptive cruise control, to be engaged via spoken instructions.

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The A6 allroad comes with sport seats and available features including heating, ventilation, and massage, an electrochromatic panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control, soft-close doors, and Bang & Olufsen 3D surround sound.

Audi’s matrix LED headlights include adaptive lighting that can adjust to weather conditions and illuminate an adjacent lane when merging, plus features lane-marking projections and dynamic start-up animations along with user-customisable running light signatures.

Cargo capacity of the V6 TDI model outranks the PHEV slightly, with between 466 litres and 1497 litres depending on rear seat position, which drops to 404L to 1423L in the PHEV. Towing capacity for the PHEV is also slightly lower at 2000kg, compared to 2500kg for the diesel.

Audi has not yet confirmed the new A6 allroad quattor for Australia, but says the model is under evaluation for the Australian market. Other new-generation models in the A6 range, including the A6 Avant and A6 e-tron sedan, are yet to launch in Australia.