Today’s Road Brief: Mazda 6e peeks, a baby Defender rumor, Lexus trims the top, and Aussies side-eye robo-cars
I brewed the strong stuff for this one. A grab-bag of spy shots, policy pivots, racing jitters, and one Nissan Z that woke up wearing an Aston Martin face. Settle in—today’s an eclectic lap around the car world.
EVs and city tech: Mazda’s 6e takes shape, Aussies push back on autonomy, and Europe welcomes microcars
Mazda 6e EV liftback spied in right-hand drive
The Mazda 6e—yes, the long-rumored electric liftback—has been spotted testing in right-hand drive trim. That matters because RHD usually points to Australia, the UK, and Japan, and Mazda doesn’t camouflage cars for markets it’s not eyeing seriously. The profile looks clean and purposeful: long wheelbase, tidy overhangs, and a fastback tail that reads more “proper grand tourer” than anonymous aero blob.
Having lived with a few modern Mazdas, I’m quietly optimistic. Even on corrugated country roads, Mazda’s ride/handling balance tends to land just right—European taut without the chiropractor bill. If 6e keeps that DNA and folds in a sensible charging curve and smart cabin tech, it could be the driver’s pick in a segment obsessed with drag coefficients.
- What stands out: liftback practicality, RHD mirrors, aero-pattern wheels, sleek lamp signatures.
- What we don’t know: battery sizes, motor outputs, charging speeds, and whether Australia gets it at launch or a staggered rollout.
- What I’m hoping for: a proper one-pedal mode with natural pedal feel and a head-up display that doesn’t wash out in Aussie sun.
| Mid-size EVs at a glance | Mazda 6e (expected) | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | Tesla Model 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body style | Liftback sedan | Streamlined sedan | Notchback sedan |
| Character | Driver-focused, tactile controls | Efficiency-first, calm cabin | Tech-forward, minimalist |
| Likely strengths | Steering feel, chassis balance | Range efficiency, fast charging | Charging network, software polish |
| Wildcard | Mazda’s cabin craftsmanship | Slick aero styling | Frequent OTA feature updates |
Survey: Almost half of Australians are opposed to self-driving cars locally
A fresh bit of research says close to half of Aussies don’t want autonomous vehicles operating in their neighbourhoods. Not surprising. Whenever I chat with owners at suburban servos, it’s the same concerns: who’s responsible if the car misreads a dodgy country road, how robo-cars handle roos at dusk, and whether patchy line markings confuse the systems. Autonomy needs trust built mile by mile, and in Australia that means surviving heat, glare, and roads that change character every 200 metres.
EU gives the green light to a new microcar segment
Brussels has nodded through a formal microcar category, which could bring structure—and safety benchmarks—to the quirky urban pods we’ve seen bubbling up. Think ultra-compact, low-speed, city-first mobility that can actually be regulated and insured properly. The upside? Cleaner air and easier parking for dense cores. The catch? These things look like nervous rabbits on arterial roads. Best for short hops, last-mile trips, and car-sharing fleets rather than Alpine ski weekends.
JLR’s week: Baby Defender whispers and a big government-backed loan
2026 “Defender Sport” reportedly on the cards
The word is that Land Rover’s working on a smaller, more attainable Defender—possibly “Defender Sport”—targeting a 2026 debut. If it keeps the boxy charm but shrinks the footprint, that’s a win for city dwellers who love the Defender vibe but not the parking geometry lessons. I daily-drove a Defender 90 in a tight downtown for a week last year: joyful on a trail; mildly terrifying at multi-storey ramps. A right-sized version with honest off-road kit could be the sweet spot.
- Expect a tougher stance than a typical soft-roader, with more usable angles and cladding that won’t cry at a hedge.
- If it shares interior DNA with the big one—rubberised floors, grab handles, and simple, durable switchgear—I’m in.
- Wishlist: a straightforward all-terrain mode setup and a spare wheel you can actually lift solo.
JLR secures a roughly $3 billion loan after cyber attack
JLR has been granted a government-backed loan in the region of $3B following a cyber attack that tangled its operations. Beyond the crisis patching, money like this usually flows into supply-chain hardening, recovery tooling, and—ideally—keeping key product programs on track. The timing matters: new metal (and software) is coming fast, and any wobble can set back launches by months. If you’ve waited on backordered parts lately, you know the stakes.
Market moves: Lexus trims its US flagship, Chery’s big SUV shows face
Lexus to axe its flagship in the US
Lexus is reportedly discontinuing its US-market flagship nameplate. We’ll wait on the fine print, but the macro story’s familiar: buyers have moved decisively toward SUVs, and long, low sedans (even brilliant ones) can struggle to earn their keep. If you love serene cabins and quietly imperious ride quality, now’s the moment to appreciate what the flagship represented—before the badge becomes a history lesson or morphs into an electrified successor.
2026 Chery Tiggo 8 revealed in China, Aussie path unclear
Chery has shown the next Tiggo 8, its three-row family hauler. The brand’s been on a tear lately, and the new Tiggo 8 looks more polished—with the kind of neat surfacing and tech-centric cabin that gives mainstream rivals indigestion. Whether it comes to Australia is still a question mark. If it does, expect value-packed trims, confident driver assists, and the sort of panoramic screen real estate that keeps teenagers quiet between footy practice and dinner.
Culture, classics, and curios: Molly Taylor’s grit, Morgan at 75, and a Z in an Aston suit
“Being fast isn’t enough”: Molly Taylor documentary lands
Molly Taylor’s story finally gets the documentary treatment, and it’s long overdue. She didn’t just go quick—she won the 2016 Australian Rally Championship and then took that relentlessness to international stages. I’ve watched her thread a rally car through forests where your peripheral vision turns to green smear. The film’s title nails it: speed is the entry ticket; resilience keeps you in the arena.
Morgan Plus Four turns 75: from 68bhp to nearly four times more
The Morgan Plus Four has aged like a proper British ale—slowly, confidently, with the odd delightful eccentricity. Early cars made around 68bhp; today’s machine serves roughly four times that, thanks to a modern turbo four. When I last drove one, the steering chatted like an old mate, the scuttle shook over potholes, and I grinned like a fool anyway. It’s a reminder that connection beats perfection.
This Nissan Z with an Aston Martin face… works?
Someone grafted an Aston-esque grille onto a Nissan Z, and against all laws of aesthetic physics, it kind of slaps. My brain says “shouldn’t,” my eyes say “go on then.” Not for purists, but car culture thrives on this sort of rule-breaking collage.
F1 corner: How Sauber is responding to Hülkenberg’s tricky Saturdays
Autosport reports that Sauber is digging into why Nico Hülkenberg’s qualifying record stacks unfavourably against rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. When a veteran struggles over one lap, it’s rarely just “he forgot how.” Think set-up windows, tyre prep, brake bite, and confidence with rear rotation in Q1 traffic. Saturday pace is a house of cards—fix the out-lap choreography and front-axle bite, and the delta can flip in a weekend.
Quick hits
- Mazda 6e looks genuinely promising for driver types who still care about steering feel.
- Baby Defender could be the right-size adventure toy—if they keep it honest.
- Lexus trimming its flagship in the US underscores the SUV tide, again.
- Chery’s Tiggo 8 continues China Inc.’s march into polished family SUVs.
- Europe’s microcar category might finally give urban pods a proper lane.
- Australians aren’t sold on robo-cars living next door—yet.
If today has a theme, it’s calibration: brands calibrating lineups, teams calibrating qualifying prep, and drivers—human and otherwise—calibrating trust. We’ll see who nails the setup.
FAQ
When is the Mazda 6e likely to launch in Australia?
Right-hand-drive test cars suggest Australia is firmly in the frame. Exact timing hasn’t been confirmed, but the groundwork is clearly being laid.
What is the rumored Defender Sport?
A smaller, more affordable Defender variant reportedly targeting 2026. Think boxy charm in a handier footprint, with an emphasis on usability in cities without losing the adventure vibe.
Which Lexus model is being axed in the US?
Lexus plans to discontinue its flagship in the US market. The brand has not detailed the long-term replacement strategy yet, but the shift reflects ongoing buyer migration to SUVs and new electrified offerings.
Will the new Chery Tiggo 8 come to Australia?
Chery has shown the 2026 Tiggo 8 in China, but its Australian future remains unclear. Given the brand’s recent growth locally, it’s one to watch.
Why are so many Australians wary of self-driving cars?
Concerns range from responsibility in crashes to real-world performance on Australia’s inconsistent road markings, wildlife risks, and extreme conditions. Trust will build with proven, localised testing and transparency.
