Today in Cars: Toyota HiLux EV edges closer, Cayenne goes full electric, Toyota axes a stalwart in Oz, and Ford’s cooking up a secret special

I started the morning with coffee and utes—because that’s how Australia insists you do it—and ended it talking to a fleet manager who’s already planning charging timetables. Why? The Toyota HiLux EV is edging into view, and even from this distance, you can see what lane it’s choosing. Mix in a full-electric Cayenne, Lexus getting braver, a value seven-seater, and one very unlucky Cadillac, and you’ve got a busy day in carland.

Toyota HiLux EV: short-range workhorse with a point to prove

The headline is simple: the 2026 Toyota HiLux EV is being tuned for urban utility. Guidance suggests around 240km of range and up to 1.6 tonnes of towing. That will kick off a thousand pub debates, sure, but it also reads like a bullseye for metro tradies, council fleets, and anyone whose day looks more like “job-to-job around town” than “Perth to Port Augusta on a whim.”

When I last hustled a diesel HiLux across corrugated gravel, what wore me down wasn’t just the steering—it's the constant thrum and shudder that gets into your shoulders. An electric HiLux, on paper, fixes a lot of that right away: quiet starts before sunrise, finer low-speed control when you’re backing a trailer into a cramped site, and one-pedal creep in traffic that feels almost like cheating. The compromise is baked in, though. With that ~240km figure, you’ll plan your week (and your charging stops) if you’re regularly out past the ring road. And a 1.6t tow rating clearly signals: heavy long-haul tow rigs should stick with the diesels.

• Targeted range: about 240km
• Towing: up to 1.6 tonnes
• Best for: metro fleets, short-site runs, quiet early-morning starts without waking the street
• Watch for: official payload numbers and DC fast-charge speed (both TBA)

2026 Toyota HiLux EV and ICE lineup: prices and specs on the move

Toyota’s playing a two-lane strategy for 2026: keep the HiLux faithful happy with familiar diesel and petrol grunt, then drop the Toyota HiLux EV in alongside as the city-smart alternative. It’s a pragmatic way to cover both ends—lower running costs and ESG wins for fleets, traditional capability for the long-haul and remote crowd.

Toyota HiLux EV vs HiLux ICE: quick take

Who the Toyota HiLux EV suits (and who it doesn’t)

• Yes: plumbers, sparkies, landscape crews doing 8–12 stops a day within the metro sprawl.
• Yes: councils and utilities with depots, scheduled routes, and off-street overnight charging.
• Probably not: caravanners and boat haulers who live on the highway or far from fast chargers.
• On the fence: regional SMEs that could charge at base but still need an occasional long run.

Toyota HiLux EV in context: the rivals circling

There’s a quiet arms race in “electrified ute” land. The LDV eT60 has made early moves, and plug-in players like BYD’s Shark and Ford’s Ranger PHEV are elbowing in with their own answers to range anxiety. The Toyota HiLux EV looks set to take the sensible lane: keep it light on claims, honest about use case, and robust where it counts—job-site to depot, day in, day out.

Meanwhile in ute-land: Premcar sharpening a “crucial” new pickup

Local hero Premcar—the Australian outfit behind some of the best factory-sanctioned tough-truck tunes—has been tapped to develop a “crucial new ute.” They’re tight-lipped, as usual. From experience, the Premcar fairy dust is about body control and that elusive secondary ride. I’ve driven a couple of their setups where corrugations stop feeling like a personal vendetta and start feeling like just… road.

Toyota retires its HiLux-based SUV in Australia

Not exactly a plot twist: Toyota is winding down its HiLux-based SUV locally. The market has moved toward newer platforms and hybrid-heavy options, and the old-school ladder-frame formula is getting nudged to the fringes. If you’ve been eyeing one, it’s last drinks—dealers won’t keep stock forever.

Porsche circles a date: Cayenne Electric reveal locked in

Porsche has circled the calendar for the all-electric Cayenne—no vague tease, a proper date. Given how the Taycan matured into a genuinely involving driver’s car (the pedal feel update alone was a revelation when I sampled it last), expectations are high. The big hurdles for a heavy EV SUV? Keeping brake feel consistent on a long downhill and tuning the chassis so it rotates on throttle like a Porsche should. I’m hoping for a rear-biased setup and that uncanny blend of control and calm they’re famous for.

Lexus aims bolder: identity shift, fewer beige decisions

Lexus says it’s going to take more risks. Good. When I chatted with a couple of owners at a DC fast charger recently, the chorus was: “Keep the serenity, but give us some soul.” If they can maintain the hushed cabins and add a distinct character—steering with feel, powertrains with personality—they’ll tempt folks who’ve wandered off to the Germans. UX simplicity over tech fireworks would also be a win; the last thing any of us need is a deep menu to turn on a heated seat.

Value play: Omoda 7 ICE SUV lands in January

The Omoda 7-seat ICE SUV touches down in January from £29,915 in the UK, which is eyebrow-raising value for a family bus. The swing factor won’t be space—it’s got that—but the perceived quality and infotainment polish. Parents will forgive a slightly firm ride if the cabin feels a class up and the phone mirroring just works.

• On sale: January (UK)
• Starting price: £29,915
• Pitch: family-sized space without premium-brand costs
• Questions left: engine outputs, safety spec by grade, smartphone UI smoothness

Track toys and teases: Ford Racing’s secret road car

Ford Racing has a road-car surprise set for January. The brand’s been in a playful mood lately—Mustang specials, off-road bruisers, the lot—so expect something loud, limited, and mechanically serious. I’ll bring a decibel meter. And a beanie. January pit lanes are no joke.

Ouch: a CT5-V Blackwing burns before 3,000 miles

Some poor soul’s Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing cooked itself before 3,000 miles. Grim photos, sobering lesson. Big-power, high-heat cars demand hawk-eyed maintenance and sensible mods. If you’re shopping used, get someone who knows what baked heat shields look like to inspect it. And, yes, keeping a small extinguisher in the garage is not overkill.

Cruising the culture: Cropley buys another car, Skoda turns 130

Over at Autocar, Steve Cropley has purchased yet another car, which feels like the automotive equivalent of sunrise—comforting and inevitable. Meanwhile, Skoda is celebrating 130 years. I still remember the first time I hustled a vRS wagon down a Welsh B-road and had to admit—out loud, to myself—that it was brilliant. Funny how reputations change when the product quietly gets on with the job.

Quick hits

• Toyota HiLux EV aims for short-hop utility, not long-haul towing.
• Cayenne Electric reveal date set—watch weight management, brake feel, and range.
• Toyota drops its HiLux-based SUV in Australia as tastes shift.
• Omoda 7 undercuts on price; quality and UX will decide the verdict.
• Ford Racing teases a January special—expect noise and numbers.
• CT5-V Blackwing fire is a reminder: hot cars need cool heads.

Conclusion

The through-line today is change with a practical streak. The Toyota HiLux EV is shaping up as a city-first tool with real-day benefits, Porsche is readying an electric Cayenne with big expectations strapped to its axles, and Lexus wants to add attitude without losing its zen. Even the family value end is shifting, with Omoda going hard on price. January looks busy—save the date, and maybe a spot on the driveway.

FAQ

What is the expected range and towing for the 2026 Toyota HiLux EV?

Current guidance points to about 240km of range and up to 1.6 tonnes of towing, which suits urban and short-route use cases.

Is Toyota discontinuing a HiLux-based SUV in Australia?

Yes. Toyota is withdrawing its HiLux-based SUV from the Australian lineup as buyer preferences and platforms evolve.

When will the Porsche Cayenne Electric be revealed?

Porsche has locked in an official reveal date; the debut is imminent.

What’s the starting price of the Omoda 7 in the UK?

From £29,915, with sales beginning in January.

What is Ford Racing’s “secret road car”?

Details are under wraps for now, but it’s slated for a January debut and should be a high-performance, limited-style special.