Daily Brief: Hyundai Crater Concept, KGM’s Budget EV Ute for Australia, Mokka GSe Finds Grip, EV9 GT Delay, and More

If today’s pile of headlines has a theme, it’s “cars doing things you didn’t expect.” The Hyundai Crater Concept pops up like a flare from a brand best known for tidy road cars, a rebadged Nissan PHEV is causing double takes, and Australia might be getting its cheapest electric ute. Meanwhile, Vauxhall quietly turns the Mokka into a genuinely grin-worthy little EV, Kia taps the brakes on its EV9 GT, Ford sells used cars on Amazon (yes, really), and Mansory builds a banana you can parallel park. Let’s dive in.

Rugged and Ready: Hyundai Crater Concept Teases a Real Off-Roader

Hyundai’s Crater Concept looks like it was designed by people who actually camp. Boxy silhouette, upright glass, tires with sidewalls you can read from space—plus approach and departure angles that suggest this isn’t just for Instagramming at trailheads. It feels less “auto show cosplay” and more “we might actually build this.” Crucially, it seems aimed at carving a niche alongside Hyundai’s road-biased SUVs without stepping on them.

• Design notes: squared-off bodywork, real-looking tie-downs, meaningful roof-rack potential, and those purposeful strap points.
• Trail-first vibe: more overland attitude than mall-crawler gloss.
• The big unknown: ladder frame and low-range, or clever unibody with serious traction brains? Hyundai’s not saying yet.

I’ve driven plenty of “adventure” crossovers that clang their skid plates the moment the road turns to washboard. If Hyundai pairs this stance with actual hardware—sensible gearing, robust underbody protection, smart locking tricks—the Crater could earn trail cred instead of just likes. Honestly, I wasn’t sure at first. Then I took a second look at the tires and thought, okay, you’re serious.

Why the Hyundai Crater Concept Matters Right Now

• Market gap: buyers love the romance of the outdoors, but not everyone wants a Bronco-sized commitment. The Hyundai Crater Concept could be a sweet-spot bruiser.
• Lifestyle fit: looks built for muddy bike weekends, snowy cabin hauls, and beach launches—stuff many crossovers pretend to handle.
• Real talk: if it keeps road manners civil (quiet cabin, easy steering) while taking a rutted fire road without drama, it could be the “one car” solution families actually use.

Ute Watch: KGM Musso EV Targets Value, Another Chinese Brand Plots a Return

KGM (the brand formerly known as SsangYong) has outlined its 2026 Musso EV for Australia. The pitch is razor-clear: become the country’s cheapest electric ute. That alone will get fleet managers leaning in and tradies pausing mid-flat white. The Musso’s always been a tough, sensible workmate—electrifying it at the right price could properly unlock the segment.

• What matters most: usable range, rapid charging, and real-world tow capacity trump spec-sheet chest beating.
• Liveability: if it can top up quickly at highway servo chargers and keep tray space sensible, it’ll convert skeptics.
• Packaging watch: battery placement under the cabin vs. beneath the tray will make or break ride comfort and utility.

Separately, a Chinese brand is eyeing a return to Australia with a new ute. Second chances work only if you fix the first impression—think dealership support, safety ratings Aussies trust, and pricing that survives the end-of-financial-year sales scrum.

Electric Performance Shuffle: Mokka GSe Finds Its Groove, EV9 GT Hits Pause

Autocar’s read on the Vauxhall Mokka GSe is refreshingly straightforward: it handles. That’s rarer in small EVs than it should be. I’ve put miles on the regular Mokka Electric and found it tidy but a bit aloof. If the GSe tuning adds meaningful feedback and reins in roll without wrecking the ride, this might be the one you actually detour home in.

• Expectation setting: thoughtful chassis tuning over headline output, working with the updated motor and battery the standard Mokka Electric already uses.
• Everyday win: sane wheel sizes and good tires often improve EVs more than raw power. Fingers crossed GSe keeps it comfortable.

At the other end of the size chart, Kia’s EV9 GT—the go-fast, three-row EV—has been delayed indefinitely. The version touted at roughly 501 hp is headed back to the oven. Disappointing? Sure. But when you mix big power with big mass and family-duty reliability, you want the software, cooling, and brakes bulletproof before the school run starts.

Click, Prime, Vroom: Ford’s Used Cars Arrive on Amazon

Buying a used Ford just got as simple as ordering paper towels. Ford is listing used inventory on Amazon, which sounds wild until you realize we already shop dealer sites on our phones. The Amazon layer adds filters you know, a familiar checkout flow, and—importantly—dealer fulfillment behind the scenes.

• Upside: transparency, easier comparisons, and the comfort of a shopping platform you already trust.
• Reality check: you’ll still test-drive, talk trade-in, and finalize financing with a dealer. This just lowers the first hurdle.
• Buyer tip: screenshot the listing. Confirm warranty coverage, reconditioning, and fees line by line before you sign.

Garage Candy and Guilty Pleasures

Mansory’s Banana Bentley

Mansory has turned a Bentley into a high-vis banana on wheels. Yellow upon more yellow, aero appendages broad enough to shade a café table, and the kind of stance that dares Monaco speed bumps to try it. Subtle? No. Fun? Absolutely. You may not want to be seen in it, but you will stare at it—human nature.

Still in the Wrapper: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Time Capsule

There’s a ’96 Impala SS out there that looks like it just rolled off the transporter—plastic still on the bits that usually crumble first. Under the hood is the LT1 5.7-liter V8 (about 260 hp), delivering that lazy, effortless torque modern sedans sometimes forget. If you’re tempted, be pragmatic:

• Sitting kills seals, hoses, and tires. Budget to refresh what rubber touches, even if it “looks new.”
• Storage history matters. Humidity can warp door cards and make soft-touch trim sticky.
• Driving it will nibble its collector premium. Do it anyway. Cars are happier in motion.

Deal of the Day: Portable Pressure Washer That Actually Fits in the Boot

Road & Track spotlighted the Fanttik NB8 portable pressure washer gun at 33% off. I swear by compact washers for track-day brake dust and winter salt; they’re also brilliant for mountain bikes after a muddy loop. The win is portability—no hose spaghetti across the driveway, no angry neighbor peeking through the blinds.

• Where it shines: apartment garages, campsite clean-ups, quick wheel refreshes.
• Pro tip: gentle fan tip for PPF and vinyl; save the pencil jet for tires and floor mats.

A Quick Word on Nissan’s New PHEV Rebadge

Nissan’s new PHEV SUV is raising eyebrows because it’s a straight-faced rebadge—echoes of those Falcon-based ute days in Australia. Badge engineering isn’t a crime, but buyers recognize a photocopy. If you’re cross-shopping, look for suspension tuning differences, noise suppression, infotainment polish, and warranty terms. Sometimes the “same” car isn’t the same to live with.

Hyundai Crater Concept and Today’s Headlines at a Glance

• Hyundai Crater Concept debuts with real off-road intent.
• KGM Musso EV detailed: aiming to be Australia’s cheapest electric ute.
• Chinese brand planning AU return with a new ute: round two incoming.
• Vauxhall Mokka GSe: small EV that genuinely handles.
• Kia EV9 GT delayed: go-fast three-row waits for extra polish.
• Ford used cars on Amazon: browsing gets even more app-like.
• Mansory’s bright-yellow Bentley: loud, proud, unignorable.
• 1996 Impala SS time capsule: collector bait with proper V8 charm.

Conclusion

The Hyundai Crater Concept hints that even mainstream brands want a shot at dirt, while the Mokka GSe shows that small EVs can be fun without turning your spine to dust. Utes are getting electric (and cheaper), buying cars is drifting into full e-commerce, and the tuner circus is still delightfully unhinged. The classics? They keep reminding us why we fell in love with cars in the first place. See you tomorrow—pack a thermos.

FAQ

What is the Hyundai Crater Concept?

It’s a design-led preview of a rugged, off-road-leaning SUV from Hyundai. The intent looks serious, but key technical details—platform, driveline, and hardware—haven’t been confirmed yet.

Will the Hyundai Crater Concept go into production?

No official green light yet. If interest is strong and the engineering case stacks up, a production version could slot in as Hyundai’s most trail-capable SUV.

Is the KGM Musso EV really going to be Australia’s cheapest electric ute?

That’s the plan KGM has floated. Final pricing and specs will tell the full story, but value is clearly the play.

Why was the Kia EV9 GT delayed?

Kia hasn’t given a fresh on-sale date. It’s reasonable to expect the pause is about durability, thermal management, and software polish for a roughly 501-hp, three-row family EV.

How is the Vauxhall Mokka GSe different from the regular Mokka Electric?

GSe focuses on handling finesse—chassis and steering tune—over big power jumps, aiming to add feel and control without wrecking ride comfort.