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

If today’s sheet of headlines had a theme, it would be “expect the unexpected.” Hyundai’s flirting with a proper adventure rig, a rebadged Nissan PHEV has the internet doing spit-takes, and Australia’s about to get its cheapest electric ute. Meanwhile, Vauxhall quietly sharpened the Mokka into something you actually want to hustle, Kia hit pause on its EV9 GT, Ford put used cars on Amazon, and Mansory… well, Mansory went full banana on a Bentley. Let’s get into it.

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

Hyundai’s Crater concept looks like the brand’s most outdoorsy thought experiment yet. Think squared-off bodywork, meaty rubber, proper approach and departure angles, and that purposeful, “strap the kayaks on, we’re leaving at dawn” stance. It reads less like a show-floor dress-up and more like Hyundai testing the water for a serious trail-capable SUV to sit alongside (but not overlap) its road-focused crossovers.

• Design cues: chunky tires, upright greenhouse, roof-rack ambition, and strap points that actually look usable.
• Vibe check: more overland energy than soft-roader flair, which is refreshing out of a design studio.
• Big question: ladder-frame bruiser or clever unibody with locking smarts? Hyundai isn’t saying yet.

I’ve driven plenty of “adventure” crossovers that talk a big game but clatter their skid plates at the first rut. If Hyundai backs this styling with proper hardware—gearing, traction logic, real underbody protection—the Crater could earn trail cred, not just likes.

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

KGM (formerly SsangYong) has detailed the 2026 Musso EV for Australia, and the headline is simple: it’s positioned as the country’s cheapest electric ute. That phrase alone will make fleet managers lean forward and coffee-drinking tradies pause mid-sip. The Musso’s always been a pragmatic, no-frills workhorse; electrifying it with a sharp sticker could be the nudge the segment needs.

• What matters: price leadership and usable range will trump spec-sheet chest-beating here.
• Real-world lens: if it can tow respectably and charge quickly at highway rest stops, it’ll crack open new buyers.
• Quirk watch: I’ll be curious about under-seat battery packaging and tray space. Utes hide packaging sins worse than SUVs.

Separately, a Chinese brand is eyeing a return to Australia with a new ute. Second chances are rare unless you bring something the first try lacked—usually dealer support, safety ratings that speak Australian, and pricing that doesn’t evaporate at EOFY.

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

Autocar’s take on the Vauxhall Mokka GSe is pleasantly simple: it’s an EV crossover that really handles. That’s rarer than it should be. I’ve found Stellantis’s latest small-EV underpinnings tidy but sometimes aloof; if Vauxhall’s GSe tuning adds genuine feedback and roll discipline, this could be the daily that doesn’t deaden your favorite B-road.

• What to expect: a chassis-first tweak rather than headline power, with the updated motor and battery the regular Mokka Electric already uses.
• Daily life: smaller wheels and proper tires often help more than big numbers. Here’s hoping GSe keeps the ride honest.

On the other end of the size chart, Kia’s EV9 GT—the hot, three-row EV—has been delayed indefinitely. The version touted at around 501 hp goes back in the oven. Disappointing? Sure. But if the brief includes big power, heavy mass, and family-duty reliability, I’d rather they sort software, cooling, and braking now than let early owners beta-test the hard way.

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

Buying a used Ford just got as easy as shopping for a coffee grinder. Ford is listing used vehicles on Amazon, which sounds wild until you remember most of us already scroll dealer inventories on phones. The twist is the Amazon layer—filters you already know, checkout that feels familiar, and (crucially) dealer fulfillment in the background.

• Upside: transparency, broad shopping reach, easy comparisons across trims and years.
• Reality: you’ll still do the test-drive, trade-in haggle, and finance dance with a dealer. This just lowers the first barrier.
• Buyer tip: screenshot listings and confirm every line item (warranty, reconditioning, fees) 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 everything, aero addenda that could shade a patio, and a stance that screams “born for Monaco curbs.” Subtle? No. Entertaining? Absolutely. The fun of Mansory builds is that they commit. You may not want to be seen in it. You’ll still rubberneck.

Still in the Wrapper: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS Time Capsule

There’s an untouched ’96 Impala SS floating around—plastic still on bits that usually disintegrate first. Under the hood, the LT1 5.7-liter V8 (circa 260 hp) is the sort of old-school torque I still miss in modern sedans. If you’re tempted, go in with eyes open:

• Sitting is hard on cars. Budget for seals, hoses, belts, and tires—even if they “look new.”
• Verify storage conditions; humidity kills soft-touch plastics and door cards on these.
• If you plan to drive it, accept you’ll erase some of that collector premium with every mile. Worth it, in my book.

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

Road & Track flagged the Fanttik NB8 portable pressure washer gun at 33% off. I use compact washers like this for track-day brake dust and winter salt—also golden for mountain bikes after muddy trails. The portability is the trick: no dragging hoses across the driveway, no annoying neighbors.

• Perfect for: apartment car parks, quick wheel clean-ups, camping rigs.
• Pro tip: use a low-pressure fan tip on PPF and vinyl; save the narrow jet for tires and mats.

A Quick Word on Nissan’s New PHEV Rebadge

Nissan’s new PHEV SUV is raising eyebrows for being a straight-faced rebadge—drawing comparisons to the old Falcon-based Nissan ute era in Australia. Badge engineering isn’t a crime, but buyers can smell a photocopy. If you’re cross-shopping, check tuning differences (suspension, NVH, infotainment) and warranty terms. Sometimes the “same” car isn’t truly the same to live with.

Today’s Headlines at a Glance

• Hyundai previews Crater concept: rugged SUV energy with real trail ambition.
• KGM Musso EV detailed: aims to be Australia’s cheapest electric ute.
• Chinese brand plotting AU return with a new ute: round two incoming.
• Vauxhall Mokka GSe review says it handles: small EV with big-car poise.
• Kia EV9 GT delayed indefinitely: three-row performance EV waits in the wings.
• Ford used cars on Amazon: online car shopping gets even more app-like.
• Mansory’s banana Bentley: loud, proud, and impossible to ignore.
• 1996 Impala SS time capsule: collector bait with proper V8 charm.

Conclusion

New metal is getting more focused (Mokka GSe), more adventurous (Crater concept), and, in the ute world, more electric (Musso EV). The buying experience is going fully digital, the tuner world’s still wild, and the nostalgia market keeps proving that time is the ultimate detailer. Same time tomorrow—bring coffee.

FAQ

What is the Hyundai Crater concept?

A design-led preview of a rugged off-road-leaning SUV from Hyundai, signaling interest in a more trail-capable model than its current soft-roaders. Technical details are yet to be confirmed.

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

That’s the positioning KGM has outlined. Exact pricing and full specs will determine how it stacks up once sales begin, but value is clearly the strategy.

Why was the Kia EV9 GT delayed?

Kia’s performance version of the EV9 has been delayed indefinitely, with no new on-sale date given. It’s likely about ensuring durability, software polish, and thermal management for a high-power, three-row EV.

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

GSe focuses on handling, with chassis and steering tweaks over the standard car rather than massive power bumps, aiming for a more engaging drive.

Is buying a “still-wrapped” 1996 Impala SS a good idea?

It can be for collectors, but budget for recommissioning work. Cars that sit need fresh rubber, fluids, and seals. Driving it will reduce its collector premium, but it’ll also remind you why people loved them.