Daily Auto Brief: Ram’s First SUV, Toyota’s Big-Luxury Tease for Australia, Hyundai’s Busy 2026 Plans, and a Wild NASCAR Finale

I spent the morning bouncing between press calls and coffee refills, and today’s sheet of headlines reads like a showroom that forgot to lock up overnight. Trucks morph into SUVs, budget brands chase big wagons, and Phoenix delivered one of those NASCAR endings you only get when a championship is at stake and nerves are frayed. Let’s lap it.

Trucks, Utes, and SUVs: Everyone Wants a Piece

Ram confirms its first SUV

Ram—yes, the truck folks—has formally said an SUV is coming. No name, no specs yet, just the kind of corporate nod that usually precedes camo shots and late-night forum theories. The pitch is obvious: take Ram’s tough-as-boots image, add a family-friendly body, and park it across from Tahoe, Expedition, and Jeep Wagoneer shoppers. If they nail ride quality (air springs, please) and quiet that cabin the way late-model Rams do, it could be the blue-collar luxury wagon the brand’s owners have been asking for on job sites forever.

• Positioning: Body-on-frame or toughened unibody is unclear, but expect genuine towing talk rather than soft-roader fluff.
• What I’m watching: Second-row packaging and trailering tech—the current Ram’s camera suite and trailer assist are legitimately useful on tight ramps.

Hyundai’s Australian charge: ute, Venue overhaul, bigger Palisade family

Hyundai’s local arm is in go-mode. The company says its first Australian-market ute won’t be a rebadge of a Kia or a Chevrolet—music to ears that crave brand identity. I’ve spent enough time in current dual-cab rivals to know Aussies will judge it on payload, suspension tune on corrugations, and whether the cabin feels like a proper weekday office. Hyundai seems to know that too.

• Hyundai ute: Standalone development for Australia, not a badge swap. Expect serious towing and touring cred to be front and center.
• 2026 Hyundai Venue: A thorough overhaul is on the table for Australia. The current car’s charm is its city-friendly footprint; I’ll be looking for better ride compliance on broken suburban tarmac and a calmer highway noise profile.
• 2026 Hyundai Palisade: Range expansion is locked for next year in Australia. I’ve run a Palisade as a family shuttle—its third row is genuinely usable, and the quietness at 110 km/h is a standout. More trims and features should fill gaps between school-run Luxe and long-haul Tourer.

Toyota HiLux: 2026 teaser drops, reveal date set

Toyota has flicked the lights on the next HiLux—teaser first, date set for the full reveal. If history is a guide, expect incremental evolution where it counts: refinement, safety tech, and powertrain efficiency. Having driven the current HiLux over washboard tracks, the chassis is stout; the question is how Toyota sharpens cabin tech and ride comfort without denting durability.

Luxe and Legacy: Century and Prius Eye Australia

Century under study for Australia

Toyota is studying whether to bring its ultra-luxe Century brand to Australia. Think chauffeur-first serenity; it’s Toyota’s Rolls-Royce analogue with the kind of hush that makes phone calls feel like whispers. If it happens, it will be as much a brand statement as a sales play. Melbourne airport drop-offs would never look the same.

• What to expect: Discretion over flash; a cabin where road noise goes to retire.
• Potential buyers: Executive fleets, private limo operators, and collectors who appreciate low-key opulence.

Prius may return Down Under

Toyota also says Prius has a “potential future” in Australia. The latest generation is the first Prius I’ve looked at and thought: I’d park that by choice. Sharper styling, a stronger hybrid system, and the right tire spec make it feel less punishment, more purpose. If it returns, it could be the guilt-free commuter that doesn’t telegraph sanctimony.

Industry Watch: Polestar’s Nasdaq Headwinds

Polestar’s continued struggles on Nasdaq are rekindling questions about long-term funding and model cadence. Investor pressure is a mood you can feel in product timelines—ask any engineer who’s been told to “optimize” tools and travel. The cars remain compellingly clean and Scandinavian-cool; the challenge is sustaining that momentum with capital markets doing their grumpy-cat routine. Worth monitoring for delivery guidance and any updates on production ramp stability.

Value Wagon Wars: Dacia Preps an Octavia Rival

Over in Europe, Dacia is cooking up a new estate aimed squarely at the Skoda Octavia. Which is bold, because the Octavia’s quietly brilliant at being a car: massive boot, unfussy ergonomics, and an honest price. If Dacia brings its usual no-frills magic—robust materials, easy-to-fix ethos, and pricing that undercuts the field—it could become the default family load-lugger for people who own dogs, bikes, and an IKEA hex key that never leaves the glovebox.

• Why it matters: Estates are still the best way to move stuff without the height penalty of SUVs.
• What I’ll check first: Rear-seat toe room and the load floor’s flatness with seats folded.

Enthusiast Corner: A Boxster with a Secret Job, and a VeilSide RX-7 That’s Pure Poster

Porsche’s secret Boxster camera car

Porsche pulled the curtain on a Boxster quietly tasked with filming its fastest cars. It makes sense: mid-engine balance, low roof for clean aero, and just enough ride give to keep a stabilized rig from pogoing. I’ve ridden in similar camera rigs on track; when the driver hits the apex right, the footage is like silk. The odd flex? You catch a whiff of hot brakes behind a GT car while holding a camera pole. Spa day, but for cinematographers.

Live your Tokyo Drift dreams: VeilSide Mazda RX-7 heads to auction

A VeilSide-kitted Mazda RX-7—a dead ringer for the Tokyo Drift star—has popped up for auction. The FD’s twin-rotor turbo heart, that signature long-nose/short-deck line, and a Fortune widebody that looks carved by wind and anime—love it or loathe it, it’s pop culture on wheels. If you buy it, budget for fuel, attention, and extra time at petrol stations answering, “Yes, it’s actually a rotary.”

Motorsport: Phoenix Delivers Fireworks—Larson Takes the Cup, Blaney Steals the Show

Phoenix Raceway ended the NASCAR Cup season with an overtime finish and heart rates pegged. Kyle Larson clinched his second Cup championship in the scramble, while Ryan Blaney—eliminated earlier—scored a cathartic victory after three straight runner-up finishes there. Denny Hamlin? He was “40 seconds” from glory until a late incident sent William Byron into the wall, cue the caution, and the entire script got rewritten.

• Champion: Kyle Larson (second Cup title), sealed in overtime on Phoenix’s 1-mile tri-oval.
• Race winner: Ryan Blaney, flipping a string of near-misses into a statement win.
• Twist of fate: Late caution after Byron’s hit reshuffled everything, stalling Denny Hamlin’s near-certain run to a first title.

What’s Coming Where: Quick Comparison

Quick Takes

• Ram SUV has “tow first, talk later” written all over it if they lean on existing truck tech.
• Hyundai’s ute being bespoke is the right call; credibility in the bush is earned, not rebadged.
• Century in Australia would be the quietest flex at the valet stand.
• Prius returning could turn commute guilt into range-anxiety-free smugness (the healthy kind).
• Polestar needs smoother capital seas to keep its clean design story on the road.

Conclusion

From Ram picking up an SUV playbook to Toyota mulling a chauffeur-grade Century for Australia, the segments are blurring in interesting ways. Hyundai’s sharpening pencils across three nameplates, Dacia’s aiming practical and honest at Europe’s family market, and Phoenix gave us a motorsport reminder that nothing’s done until the flag falls. Same time tomorrow—bring your coffee and your opinions.

FAQ

• When will Ram’s first SUV be revealed?
  Ram has confirmed the project but hasn’t shared a reveal date yet. Expect more teasers before year-end news cycles kick into high gear.
• Is Hyundai’s upcoming ute just a rebadged Kia or Chevy?
  No. Hyundai says its first Australian-market ute is a standalone effort, not a rebadge.
• Is the Toyota Century really coming to Australia?
  It’s under study. Toyota is evaluating the business case; if approved, it would target ultra-luxury buyers and premium fleets.
• Could the Toyota Prius return to Australia?
  Yes, Toyota says Prius has a “potential future” locally. Timing and final spec are still to be determined.
• Who won the NASCAR Cup title at Phoenix?
  Kyle Larson clinched his second Cup championship in an overtime finish, while Ryan Blaney won the race itself.