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Pokémon theming has come to Hyundai’s infotainment and digital instrument clusters for owners in Korea, for a price. Pokémon theming has come to Hyundai’s infotainment and digital instrument clusters for owners of certain models in Korea. Two Pokémon themes, “Pikachu Lightning Theme” and “Ditto World Theme”, are available for the 2026 Palisade , Ioniq 9 , 2026 Nexo , 2026 Ioniq 6 , 2026 Sonata , The Edge and 2026 Staria . As well as Pokémon theming replacing the default look of the vehicles’ infotainment, custom animations featuring Pokémon play when the vehicle is turned on and off. MORE: Hyundai Palisade wins Best Seven-Seat SUV Under $90K The Pokémon themes are not free, priced at around $30 each and purchasable through Hyundai’s Bluelink Store . The Bluelink store that allows Hyundai owners to download custom display themes is not yet available in Australia. A Hyundai Australia spokesperson told Drive Bluelink is “currently under evaluation for the Australian ma...

Despite being undercut on Australia’s cheapest EV SUV, Leapmotor says that it will not go into a price war with fellow Chinese manufacturer BYD. Leapmotor, one of the many new Chinese car brands in Australia and whose international venture is majority owned by Stellantis, has said that it will not enter a price war with BYD. This comes after the Leapmotor B10 was poised to be Australia’s cheapest electric SUV, before being massively undercut by the pricing announcement of the BYD Atto 2 less than a month later. Despite this, Rick Crichton, Senior Product Manager at Stellantis Australia, says that being the cheapest on the market is not the brand’s intention. “There were some really eye-catching headlines that were published after we released our B10 pricing. ‘Australia’s most affordable electric SUV’ is one that comes to mind. That wasn’t our intention. MORE: Leapmotor claims to be ‘the most European of the Chinese SUVs’ Leapmotor B10 “We wanted to deliver maximum ...

Hyundai is part of the fabric of Australia now after 40 years in the market, a local exec has said, which gives it the edge over Chinese newcomers despite their lower prices. Hyundai Elexio New car buyers are prepared to pay more for ‘legacy brands’ like Hyundai in the electric car era, the brand says, because its 40 years in Australia provides benefits the Chinese brands can’t match. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 Hyundai Elexio , Gavin Donaldson, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Australia, said 40 years of local experience, a wide range of models and an extensive dealer network make it competitive despite being undercut on price by challenger brands. The number of Chinese car brands entering the Australian market in the last few years has boomed, so much so that China was the number-two source of new vehicles in 2025 , accounting for more than 250,000 of the 1.2 million delivered in total. Three Chinese car brands also placed among the top 10 sellers last year – GW...

Mazda’s European design head has let slip that a version of the next MX-5 might be completely silent, suggesting a switch to electrification. Mazda MX-5 render by Theophilus Chin Details of the next-generation ‘NE’ MX-5 have been revealed, with a senior Mazda staffer dropping a strong hint that an electrified version could be part of the line-up. Mazda’s European design director, Jo Stenuit gave one of the most revealing hints yet at what may be in store for the next MX-5 , with multiple powertrain options on the table. In an interview with AutoRAI.nl , Stenuit confirmed that mild-hybrid technology would feature on the next MX-5, and opened the door to a more comprehensive electrified option. When asked about the next-generation MX-5, Stenuit confirmed behind-the-scene work on a fifth-generation model was underway. MORE: Next Mazda MX-5 – first details, release date of new-gen sports car – report Mazda MX-5 render by Theophilus Chin “Of course, we’re wor...

On a budget when looking for a family car? These are the Drive Marketplace recommendations for less than $50k from the team. Choosing the next set of wheels to ferry the family can be a tough choice, but Drive has driven all the fresh metal available in Australia to make that selection a little easier. Some of us have children, some of us have cats, and some of us just need space for a partner and the things we buy online. Here are the Drive team’s choices found on Drive Marketplace for less than $50,000. Kat Fisk, Senior Journalist – Kia EV6 I was going to say Tesla Model 3 , BUT then I saw my dream used car…this 2023 Kia EV6 GT-Line. My next family car will undoubtedly be electric, and this has long been on my wishlist, but buying new is just too damn expensive. Remember when the EV6 was early $60K and not $70K?! It drives beautifully, has lots of space, premium features, Kia 7-year warranty, five-star ANCAP…all the stuff I need really. The driving range, ...

Technology and safety upgrades are likely on the way for some of Toyota’s smallest models. Toyota Yaris The 2026 Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross are set to receive larger infotainment screens as part of interior upgrades announced for the city-focused models in Japan. Toyota has confirmed the Yaris and Yaris Cross will receive a 10.5-inch infotainment display in higher-grade models, up from the 8.0-inch screen previously offered, with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto . Drive has contacted Toyota Australia for comment on plans for the revived models in Australia. The Yaris will change from a cable-operated hand brake to an electronic parking brake with a hold function, and will gain a front centre armrest with storage, both already standard in the Yaris Cross. MORE: 2025 Toyota Yaris, Yaris Cross updated with new features, fix for dangerous hidden pollutant New infotainment screens New colours and a special edition have been announced for Japan, but are ...

Mini’s dedicated electric SUV line-up is set to expand with a petrol-powered version of the Aceman tipped to appear. As demand for electric vehicles starts to taper off in some markets, Mini is looking to expand the Aceman SUV line-up with a petrol-powered model. Initially launched as an electric-only model, with a dedicated EV platform co-developed with GWM , the Aceman is now set to broaden its appeal with petrol-engined models. The report is based on insider information, shared with MotoringFile , that suggests a second Aceman-badged model is on the way. Much like the Mini Cooper hatch range, the Aceman looks set to use a distinct platform for its petrol-engined model, but with similar sizing and styling to connect it to the Aceman EV range. MORE: Made in China cars no concern for buyers, Mini says The introduction of tariffs on imported Chinese EVs in markets like Europe and the USA has seen the adoption of pure EVs slow, and while Mini USA doesn’t offer the Ace...

Nearly 30 years after it won the biggest race in Australian motorsport, Larry Perkins’ 1997 Bathurst-winning VS Commodore race car is up for auction. A Bathurst-winning 1997 Holden VS Commodore driven by Larry Perkins and Russell Ingall is listed for auction in its original livery with its winning trophies included. Listed on Collecting Cars , the Holden VS Commodore V8 supercar took Larry Perkins to his sixth and final Bathurst 1000 win and raced in the 1997 and 1998 seasons of the Australian Touring Car Championship. The car was later sold to privateer Barry Morcon, who raced the car in the V8-lites (now known as Super2), the feeder series to V8 Supercars, before it underwent a major rebuild. Collecting cars has opened bidding for the 1997 Primus 1000 Classic-winning Castrol Holden VS Commodore , which will be sold with extensive racing documentation and its Bathurst-winning trophy. MORE: Bathurst-winning Holden V8 Supercar and Alan Jones F1 racer to headline Canberra Fe...