Friday Auto Brief: Ute chess moves, a tiny Twingo tease, and Ford’s Lightning rumor mill

Some days the car world feels like a quiet country road. Today’s more like the Hume on a long weekend—utes jostling for position, an affordable EV peeking from the wings, retail showrooms trying to be coffee shops, and rally drama before breakfast. I’ve stitched together the headlines that matter, with a dash of driveway reality.

Ute wars: Ram eyes Europe, Chery sharpens its spear, and Ford’s electric wild card wobbles

CarExpert reports the Ram Rampage—Ram’s smaller, Latin American-built pickup—is bound for Europe.

The obvious question for Australians: are we next? The Rampage sits a rung below the Ranger/HiLux crowd in size, the sort of ute that nails inner-city errands during the week and beach runs on the weekend. If Ram can get the right-hand-drive conversion and pricing right, it could be the interesting “just-enough ute” we don’t currently get.

Speaking of new metal, Chery is plotting a proper tilt at HiLux and Ranger with a new ute, according to several CarExpert pieces. The brand is feeling bullish—aiming for top-five status locally and even floating the idea of a second brand in Australia’s top 10. That’s not chest-beating for the sake of it; they’re laying out a strategy: launch-and-hold pricing (no yo-yo discounts), a “pub test” lens for customer care (plain-English promises that don’t unravel at the service desk), and a multi-brand ladder so buyers can climb within the family instead of defecting.

And over in Detroit, Car and Driver reports that Ford’s F-150 Lightning may be “on the chopping block.” Nothing official yet, but it speaks to the EV pickup’s strange place in the market: phenomenal straight-line speed and quiet torque, but tricky margins and buyers who still worry about towing range and charging in the outback—or even on a rainy Friday after footy practice. If Ford does reshuffle, don’t read it as EVs being “done.” More like EV trucks entering phase two, where the spreadsheets need to look as good as the 0–60 times.

Ute and truck watch: who’s coming, who’s circling

Model	Positioning	Markets in Play	What It Means for Australia
Ram Rampage	Smaller-than-Ranger lifestyle ute	Latin America now; Europe next	Australia “TBC,” but Europe move makes a RHD case stronger
Chery Ute (new)	Work-and-family dual-cab challenger	Global intent	Positioned to undercut or out-spec mainstream players
Ford F-150 Lightning	Full-size EV pickup	US-focused	Future uncertain per reports; no official Aussie plans
Ram 2500 (2026)	Heavy-duty tow king	US; converted for AU	Still the big rig for big jobs; refinement keeps improving

Heavy-duty quick take: 2026 Ram 2500

CarExpert’s local review of the 2026 Ram 2500 suggests the big fella remains the tow-and-tour benchmark.

Heavy-duty trucks live or die on the details—steering that doesn’t saw across corrugations, brakes you trust with a caravan on the tail, and seats that don’t have you counting vertebrae by Ballarat. When I’ve run HD rigs over rough rural B-roads, the trucks that stick in the memory are the ones that settle, not pogo. Ram seems to have leaned into that calmness without sacrificing the brute-force stuff owners buy them for.

• Cabin comfort is now a proper long-haul companion, not a penalty box.
• Tech is catching up, though big-screen infotainment still needs snappy responses with gloves on.
• Parking a 2500 in a suburban multi-storey is still “choose your own adventure.”

City car charm: Renault Twingo EV wants to be the people’s plug-in

Renault’s 2026 Twingo—flagged by CarExpert—arrives like a croissant in a world of protein bars. Cute, compact, and pitched to be properly affordable, it targets the kind of buyer who just wants to zip across town, park nose-first into a space the size of a pizza box, and spend more on pastries than petrol.

The rub for Aussies: it may not come here. Shame. Cars like this make EVs feel friendly and attainable—perfect for inner Sydney or Melbourne school runs where range anxiety is a non-issue.

Trust issues: Aussies and new safety tech

A new study highlighted by CarExpert says Australian drivers remain reluctant to trust newer driver aids. Not shocking, frankly. A few owners I’ve spoken to still switch off lane-keeping on country lanes, and some distrust emergency braking after one false alert in a carpark. The lesson for carmakers is simple: clearer explanations, more natural intervention, and fewer nanny vibes.

• Lane-centering needs to feel like a light touch, not a tug-of-war.
• Audible alerts should be meaningful, not a casino of beeps.
• Dealers must demo the tech properly—5 minutes at handover isn’t enough.

Retail therapy: Ford’s showroom meets café; Chery’s “pub test” playbook

Carscoops says Ford is rolling out dealership designs that feel less Midas, more micro-roastery. Think lounge vibes, less fluorescent tile. It’s the right read of the room. Buying a car still tops the stress charts for many, and a calmer space lowers the temperature. The key will be substance under the latte foam: transparency on pricing, wait times, and service costs.

On the other side, Chery’s “would it pass the pub test?” mantra—again via CarExpert—translates to promises you can repeat over a schnitty without blushing. Couple that with a launch-and-hold pricing philosophy and you’ve got a brand trying to remove the gotchas that sour first-time buyers. If they can match warranty coverage and aftersales support to those words, they’ll keep the momentum rolling.

Policy jitters: Denmark’s “kill switch” bus scare

Carscoops reports that Denmark is in a flap over Chinese-built buses allegedly featuring a remote disable capability. It reads like a geopolitical thriller, but it underscores a real, modern dilemma: connected fleets and critical infrastructure need crystal-clear rules on access and control. Expect more audits, more paperwork, and more local scrutiny of imported tech. Boring? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.

Stage notes: Rally Japan bites back

Over in Motorsport Land, Autosport reports an early off for Kalle Rovanperä in Rally Japan, denting his WRC title hopes. Japan’s tight, shiny tarmac tends to punish anything less than millimetric precision—one damp patch, one leaf, and you’re gardening. It keeps Sunday spicy, if nothing else.

What it means for your next test drive

• Shopping utes? Watch Ram’s Rampage and Chery’s newcomer—competition breeds good deals and better spec sheets.
• Curious about EVs but not ready for a huge truck? Cars like the Twingo, if they land here, are the gateway drug.
• Frustrated by driver aids? Ask the dealer to tailor settings and do a proper demo on your test route.
• Showroom vibes matter less than straight answers—ask for the out-the-door price in writing.

Conclusion

From pint-sized plug-ins to big-shouldered tow rigs, the market’s splitting at both ends—and that’s good news if you know what you need. Keep your ear to the ground on Ram’s small ute, don’t sleep on Chery’s confidence play, and remember: the best safety system in your car still wears a good pair of driving shoes.

FAQ

Will the Ram Rampage come to Australia?

It’s headed to Europe, which strengthens the business case for a right-hand-drive version. Australia isn’t confirmed, but the odds just improved.

Is the Ford F-150 Lightning being discontinued?

Car and Driver reports it may be on the chopping block, but Ford hasn’t announced a final decision. Expect strategy tweaks as EV trucks enter their next phase.

Is the new Renault Twingo EV coming to Australia?

CarExpert suggests Australians may miss out. If you want a small EV, keep an eye on other city-focused models that could fill the gap.

Why don’t drivers trust safety tech?

Mixed user experiences—false alerts, intrusive lane nudges—and poor handovers. Better education and more natural calibration usually win people over.

What’s Chery’s “pub test” about?

It’s a plain-English yardstick for customer care: policies and pricing that make sense when explained over a casual chat, not just in fine print.