Daily Car News: Ford Mustang GTD squares up to Corvette, Aussie utes shuffle, Tesla margin math, BYD’s tiny tease

I wrote this with gate-change announcements chiming over my head and a lukewarm flat white in hand—proper road‑tester fuel. Today’s mix is a good one: Australia’s ute scene won’t sit still, Tesla’s revenue climbs while profits tighten, BYD gets tiny in a very Japanese way, and the Ford Mustang GTD is very much in the mood for Corvette redemption. Somewhere in there I also found myself daydreaming about a Citroën XM (don’t worry, I’ll explain).

Australia Watch: F‑150 facelift locked in, and Kia’s Tasman plays the long game

Ford F‑150 facelift confirmed for Australia (2026)

CarExpert reports the refreshed Ford F‑150 is officially heading to Australia in 2026. Sensible move. Aussies hoovered up the current right‑hand‑drive conversions for towing boats, horses, and half their belongings up the Hume. I hustled one down a corrugated back road near Ballarat and it brushed off the chatter like it was nothing—big‑truck calm. Expect a mid‑cycle tidy rather than a reinvention: tweaked lighting, nicer touchpoints, and hopefully a few Aussie‑savvy towing updates.

• Why it matters: Keeps Ford’s full‑sizer sharp against Ram and the incoming wave of big utes.
• Timing: 2026 in Australia, with local calibration likely.
• My take: Smooth the driver‑assist tuning and give us smarter trailer tech—job done.

Kia Tasman: Slow start, no panic

Kia told CarExpert it isn’t sweating the Tasman’s early numbers. Fair enough. New utes don’t win the Bunnings car park overnight. A couple of tradies I chatted to at a servo outside Geelong liked the cab storage solutions and the ride; trust and accessories bring the rest. If Kia leans into fleet deals and a proper catalog of trays, canopies, and towing bits, you’ll start seeing them lined up outside job sites soon enough.

• Why it matters: Australia is ute heartland; cracking it sets a brand’s tone for everything else.
• Watch for: Accessory rollout, fleet uptake, and owner chat about GCVM and towing stability.

Electrified Reality Check: Mazda trims mild‑hybrids, Tesla sells more but earns less

Mazda 3 and CX‑30 mild‑hybrids unlikely to return

Per CarExpert, the 24‑volt mild‑hybrid versions of the Mazda 3 and CX‑30 won’t be back anytime soon—even with tougher emissions rules circling. Honestly, most buyers couldn’t feel enough real‑world gain to justify the premium. My last weekend stint in a 3 G25 returned low‑7s L/100km on a steady highway run. If Mazda keeps finessing naturally aspirated engines and smarter autos, they’ll get close to the same goal with fewer parts to go wrong.

• Takeaway: Expect Mazda to use light electrification only where it really earns its keep.
• Owner note: Keep your tyres properly inflated; it makes more difference to economy than many mild‑hybrid systems in mixed driving.

Tesla Q3: Revenue up, income down

CarExpert says Tesla’s Q3 revenue climbed while income slipped. Translation: the company sold a heap of cars, but margins felt the pinch—price cuts, product mix, and the cost of staying ahead on software and hardware. It’s a familiar Tesla play: scale today, bet on tech monetization tomorrow. Works until a price war gets too spicy.

• Why it matters: Keeps the pressure on legacy brands still wrestling with EV costs.
• Shopper tip: If you’re cross‑shopping, watch for end‑of‑quarter deals. Tesla loves a late sprint.

Small is smart: BYD teases a kei‑class city car for Japan

BYD is teasing a truly tiny kei EV for Japan, per CarExpert—smaller (and cheaper) than the Atto 1. If you’ve ever tried parallel parking in Tokyo or squeezing into a half‑painted slot in Osaka, it makes perfect sense. Kei rules keep size and power in check, but the packaging is witchcraft: room for two adults, groceries, and a surprising amount of cheer.

• Use case: School runs, convenience‑store dashes, cheap insurance.
• Quirk to watch: Where the charge cable lives—tiny boots get crowded fast.

Ford Mustang GTD vs Corvette: the redemption run

Ford Mustang GTD: wants payback

Carscoops has the vibe right: the Ford Mustang GTD is hunting redemption after being shown up by a Corvette. If you’ve stood next to a GTD with the bodywork off, you know it’s serious—race‑team logic everywhere you look. Big wing, rear transaxle, aggressive aero, and a supercharged 5.2‑liter V8 targeting north of 800 hp (as stated at reveal). It’s the most hard‑edged road‑legal Mustang I’ve put a helmet beside, and that’s saying something.

Ford Mustang GTD track setup: what matters

The Corvette Z06 is still the track‑day bully for the money—mid‑engine balance, a screaming flat‑plane crank, and a chassis that laughs at kerbs. The GTD’s path to payback? Nail high‑speed stability over curbing, keep the brake pedal rock‑solid after five hot laps, and make the rear end traction predictable when the supercharger huffs out of slow corners. On a bumpy circuit I know well, the Z06 stays calm where lesser setups start swearing. If Ford’s honed the damping window and aero balance, the rematch could be deliciously close.

Ford Mustang GTD vs rivals: quick specs snapshot

Either way, we win. The Mustang GTD pushing the Z06 (and glancing at the GT3 RS for homework) makes track‑rat life better for everyone who brings a torque wrench to a Saturday.

4x4 Theater: the long, loud, and gloriously impractical G‑Class

Carscoops also flagged a stretched, old‑school Mercedes‑Benz G‑Class restomod: longer, louder, and pricier than reason allows—and that’s the point. I’ve valet‑parked a few wild Gs at hotel launches; nothing gathers a crowd faster than a square silhouette on big tyres with an exhaust that barks like a drill sergeant. It’s not about apex speed. It’s about presence, that bank‑vault door thunk, and a seating position that lets you spot your house from three suburbs away.

• Pros: Theater, torque, and timeless cartoon‑brick charm.
• Cons: Turning circle of a ferry. Alleyways become boss fights.

Used‑Car Crush: the £5000 Citroën XM you secretly want

Autocar’s right—few £5k buys are as magnificently odd as the Citroën XM. Hydropneumatic ride, origami silhouette, and a dashboard designed during a synth solo. I borrowed one for a friend’s wedding years ago and floated down the M4 like the tarmac had turned to silk. If you’re tempted, bring a specialist and budget for spheres and electrics. You buy it for the way it breathes with the road. Nothing else feels quite like it.

• Buy it for: Comfort, design cred, guaranteed conversation at petrol stations.
• Watch for: Hydraulic leaks, electrical gremlins, unobtainium trim bits.

Motorsport Corner: Quartararo, Yamaha, and the V4 pivot

Autosport quotes Fabio Quartararo on Yamaha’s V4 project: after a rough patch, he wants a bike that can win now. A V4 could deliver the top‑end punch and chassis freedom the front‑runners wield so well. I remember the Mugello straight—the way the V4s blast by makes your ribs hum. If Yamaha keeps the rideability and adds a little violence up top, 2026 could look very different.

Quick hits

• F‑150 facelift in Australia: confirmed for 2026; evolution over revolution.
• Kia Tasman: slow burn; fleets and accessories will tell the story.
• Mazda mild‑hybrids: 3/CX‑30 likely sticking with simple, efficient petrol.
• Tesla Q3: revenue up, income down; price wars bite.
• BYD kei tease: tiny EV for big‑city realities.
• Ford Mustang GTD vs Corvette: rematch energy is high—and healthy for enthusiasts.
• Citroën XM: £5k of French charm and occasional headache. Worth it.

Conclusion

From outback‑friendly utes to supermarket‑slot EVs, the car world stretches beautifully at both ends—and right in the middle sits the Ford Mustang GTD, staring down the Corvette and getting fitter by the week. Keep your socket set handy and your charging card topped up; it’s going to be a busy season.

FAQ

When is the updated Ford F‑150 arriving in Australia?

CarExpert reports the facelifted F‑150 is confirmed for 2026. Expect a tidy refresh rather than a full overhaul.

Are Kia Tasman sales really slow—and should buyers worry?

Kia acknowledges a gentle start and isn’t concerned. New utes often build momentum once accessories and fleet deals hit their stride.

Will Mazda bring back the 3 and CX‑30 mild‑hybrids?

Unlikely, according to CarExpert. Mazda appears to be focusing on efficient conventional engines where the value is clearer for buyers.

What’s the deal with BYD’s new kei car?

BYD is teasing a kei‑class EV for Japan that’s smaller and cheaper than the Atto 1—ideal for dense cities and short, frequent trips.

How does the Ford Mustang GTD compare to the Corvette Z06?

The Ford Mustang GTD targets extreme track pace with a supercharged V8 and rear transaxle aiming for 800+ hp (at reveal), while the Z06 counters with a 670‑hp flat‑plane V8 and the balance of a mid‑engine layout. The matchup is exactly the kind of arms race track rats live for.