Articles by Chris Thompson

Toyota has revealed an update for the GR Corolla in its home nation, bringing a sharper-driving and better-sounding car, the brand said.On top of that, Toyota said it has addressed “the supply system for the Japanese-market model” so that the updated 2026 Toyota GR Corolla will be more readily available than previous model years.The “partially improved” GR Corolla has been bestowed with more structural adhesive, an increase of 13.9 metres of application compared to the 18.8 before, totalling 32.7 metres of adhesive in the hot hatch.Toyota said this will “enhance body rigidity while minimising weight increase” to account for more intense track driving. Toyota said it has found overseas circuits generate “more intense vertical and lateral G-forces than circuits in Japan”.To stabilise the G16E-GTS engine’s temperature and outputs, a “high-engine-speed-activated cool air duct” has been added as part of the secondary intake, which draws in air “directly from the front grille” from outside where the air is cooler than in the engine bay.The cooler air will help keep the turbocharged 1.6-litre three-cylinder engine more regularly able to achieve its maximum 221kW and 400Nm.Finally, Toyota said it’s improved the JBL sound system to deliver what it calls an “emotional motorsports-evoking sound experience even during city driving”.A subwoofer now brings total speakers from eight up to nine, meaning GR Corollas with the JBL sound system come with Active Sound Control, which uses synthesised “sporty sounds” that match the car’s acceleration and engine speed. It also mimics the anti-lag exhaust ‘burble’.As of now, the update is only confirmed for Japan, though as with many changes to the brand’s GR models, it’s likely to hit other markets next time an update is due. Toyota Australia launched an update for the GR Corolla and GR Yaris earlier in 2025.Toyota is also expected to reveal a hotter version of the Corolla to sit above it, potentially as a more limited-edition version under its GRMN badge - a model which had been leaked earlier this week from a dealer event in North America.

Mitsubishi has revealed a new electric car with a familiar name — Eclipse Cross — though this big step forward for the model comes thanks to another brand.

An upgraded, sharper Toyota Corolla hot hatch Toyota has been developing all year has been leaked at a dealer event in the US.

This week, Ferrari revealed the replacement for its SF90 Spider supercar, the 849 Testarossa Spider, and my first thought was that I’m glad convertibles are still on the cards - knowing full well that I would likely never be in a position to own this model.

Lexus this week revealed the updated IS sedan ahead of a Japanese on-sale date of early 2026.The updates consist of some mechanical changes for more engaging driving and design alterations to emphasise the “signature aggressiveness” of the car, but one thing that hasn’t changed is whether the car can be sold in Australia.The Lexus IS was discontinued for Australia in 2022 due to its inability to pass ADR 85, or ‘Pole Side Impact Performance’, which assesses the car’s ability to withstand a sideways impact into a pole. It’s one of many models that fell victim to ADR 85, including the Lexus RC coupe.Lexus Australia confirmed the IS update does not affect whether it can be sold here.“The updated IS sedan announced this week will be offered in selected markets only. This does not include Australia, which ceased offering the IS in 2022,” a Lexus spokesperson told CarsGuide.While the updated Lexus IS is a clear progression over the refreshed 2020 design, it looks rather different to the first iteration of what is still the same generation that debuted back in 2013.Twelve years on from being revealed, the third-generation IS has been given a more aggressive look, Lexus says, with a new face that bears a wider grille, has new F Sport design features, and is 10mm longer than before (now 4720mm).Inside, the changes are more significant. A 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen is standard across the range, while a completely restyled driver display panel (also 12.3 inches), console and door trims creates a more “driver-focused” interior.The IS now has more functions under the brand’s ‘Lexus Safety System +’ and can support hands-off during highway traffic congestion.

Just weeks after Australian pricing was confirmed for the Zeekr 7X, the model has been updated in its home market of China.

A new version of the Xpeng X9 people mover has been revealed in China, with a large battery and an internal combustion engine (ICE) that combine to result in a claimed range that blows rivals out of the water.The 2026 Xpeng X9 ‘SuperRange Extended Range’, as the brand called it on Chinese social media platform Weibo, is confirmed for launch with a claimed battery-only range in excess of 450km and a combustion engine to charge it on the move.According to CarNewsChina, the Chinese Government’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has also published specifications of the X9 extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and the seven-seat people mover should launch in the fourth quarter of the year in China.The model pairs a huge 63.3kWh battery with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine for what Xpeng claims is a total range of 1600km, though that figure was reached using lenient CLTC testing, which often results in far longer distances than NEDC (also relatively inaccurate) or WLTP, the latter being most widely accepted as an accurate testing method.Even if you account for a large portion of the total range to be unrealistic, the fact a people mover could be realistically able to cover more than 1000km on a single charge and full tank is impressive.Xpeng says the X9 EREV is capable of super-fast charging thanks to its 800V architecture, reducing waiting times for charging during particularly long trips and likely avoiding the need to rely heavily on the ICE for charging.According to the wording from Xpeng on its social media, the EREV tech is likely to make its way to other Xpeng models in the future.In Australia the X9 is still in the ‘register interest’ stage ahead of its launch in the fourth quarter of 2025, though it does have a fairly detailed page on the Xpeng Australia website. The EREV would likely be a while away if it does end up confirmed for Australia.When the standard EV X9 shows up, it’ll have a 702km range (CLTC) and be able to charge as much as 300km of range in 10 minutes, Xpeng claims.

While it lends itself rather strongly to being mistaken for a Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door at first glance, this is in fact the new Geely Galaxy Starshine 6 EM-i.

MG has confirmed some details ahead of the Australian launch of its ute, the U9, which is still awaiting a locked-in on-sale date.

VW's next-gen EV onslaught to be led by this T-Cross-sized electric small SUV