Today’s Drive: Lexus Supercar teases a V8 comeback, Toyota plots solid-state fireworks, and Australia’s ute wars get spicy

I’m tapping this out with the faint echo of a V8 still rattling around my skull. Good omen, because the big headline is a proper one: a Lexus Supercar with an upgraded V8 is back on the boil. Add Toyota hinting at solid-state batteries by 2027, Australia’s ute scene getting rowdy, a luxe new Nissan Elgrand, a Tiguan recall you should actually book, and a cheeky DIY Toyota mini-4x4… and it’s the kind of Thursday that makes coffee redundant.

Performance & passion: Lexus Supercar readies an upgraded V8

Do you remember the first time you wound an LFA past 8,000 rpm? That light, metallic yowl that made your neck hairs salute? Lexus hasn’t forgotten either. Word is a new halo Lexus Supercar is in the works with an evolved V8—likely twin-turbo, possibly with hybrid torque-fill if my right foot’s wish list counts for anything. When I hustled the current Lexus V8 on a damp backroad last winter, it had that calm storm vibe: no histrionics, just ruthless shove. Turn the wick up, add some electric seasoning, and we’re talking refined violence with a warranty.

• Layout expectations: front-mid engine placement, rear-drive bias, and track-ready chassis brains.
• Hybrid hint: a small e-motor could smooth the boost curve and sharpen response out of hairpins.
• Character: Lexus rarely chases volume for volume’s sake—it’s more orchestra pit than mosh pit.

Lexus Supercar: what I want to feel from the wheel

Three things. One, a throttle pedal with the precision of a scalpel, not a butter knife. Two, steering with texture—small, honest ripples of info when you lean on the front axle. Three, brakes that bite the same on lap six as they did on lap one. Oh, and a driving position that doesn’t force you into the “gorilla arms, T-Rex legs” posture some supercars still insist on. Ask me how I know.

Electrification chess: where the Lexus Supercar sits in Toyota’s 2027 solid-state world

Toyota is targeting a “high-power” EV with solid-state batteries for 2027. Translation: faster charging, greater energy density, and less weight if they nail the packaging. I’ve run plenty of current EVs through back-to-back hot laps; thermal fade is real, and it’s no fun to nurse a car in cool-down mode when your mates are still going flat out. If Toyota’s chemistry can hold temperature and cost, the enthusiast EV conversation changes overnight.

Meanwhile, Mazda’s banging the “well-to-wheel” drum (rightly). It’s not just tailpipes—it’s how you generate the electricity and manufacture the car. After doing the Melbourne-to-Sydney slog in a big-battery EV, then repeating it in a frugal diesel, I’ll say this: the answer can be “both/and” until grids get cleaner everywhere. Which is also why a Lexus Supercar with a hybrid V8 doesn’t feel like heresy—it feels like choice.

Australia’s ute arms race: Triton vs BYD vs the Navara that grew up on meat pies

Mitsubishi engineers have been stress-testing BYD’s Shark 6 PHEV and say they’ve found its limits off-road. Can’t say I’m shocked. Plug-in systems are brilliant in suburbia; slow, heavy-duty climbs in the heat are another story. I’ve boiled a conventional auto on a muddy hill—smelled like defeated ambition—and hybrid clutches and e-motors have their own heat gremlins to manage. Credit to Mitsubishi for doing the science in the scrub, not just the spreadsheet.

Enter the 2026 Nissan Navara, coming off the same bones as the new Triton but tuned with Australia in mind. Think long days, corrugated roads, and cabins that don’t squeak themselves into an early retirement. If the steering inherits the Triton’s calm and Nissan adds a dash more interior polish, the tradies won’t just tolerate it—they’ll name it.

Quick compare: Electrified family haulers landing soon

Skoda Kodiaq PHEV: early Aussie intel

The first plug-in Kodiaq is shaping up as the sensible one. Roughly 100 km WLTP electric range and seven seats—it’s the school run assassin and the holiday hauler in one. I’ve punted the outgoing Kodiaq across corrugations west of Ballarat; body control was tidy, cabin space generous, nothing rattled itself loose. Add quiet e-motor shove in town and that familiar 1.5 petrol for long trips, and it’s basically the Swiss Army knife of family SUVs.

Hyundai Elexio: value-first EV headed Down Under

Yes, it’s China-built. No, that’s not a scarlet letter anymore. Some of the strongest value EVs I’ve driven lately have a Made-in-China stamp, along with tight panel gaps and software that doesn’t throw tantrums. If Elexio lands between Kona’s city-friendly footprint and the lounge-like Ioniq 5 vibe, with sharp pricing, it’ll be a layup for urban families.

VW’s seat strategy (literally) and a Tiguan recall you shouldn’t ignore

Volkswagen’s talking up seats again—“bums-on-seats” is the actual phrase. Sounds silly until you hit hour three on the M1 and realize your lower back hasn’t filed a complaint. I once did 600 km in a Tiguan and the lumbar felt like it was tuned by an osteopath, not an accountant. More of that, please.

Less fun: a Tiguan recall has been issued in Australia. If you own one, expect a call or message from VW, or just ring your dealer. Recalls are free and quick, and a lot less hassle than pretending warning lights are “just being dramatic.”

Nissan Elgrand: the lounge comes to the car park

The new Elgrand isn’t so much a people mover as a portable quiet room. Think captain’s chairs with ottomans, serious sound deadening, and that hushed glide you get when the chassis team had time—and budget. I once climbed into an older Elgrand after a red-eye and nodded off before the airport roundabout. If this one adds a hybrid system that smooths traffic creep and cuts the fuel bill, it’ll be the school-run business class.

Range Rover’s sportiest crossover is getting meaner

Expect larger intakes, bigger brakes, and calibration tweaks that make the first 10 meters feel extra alert. Whether it’s a spicier Sport or a Velar with gym gains, the recipe is the same: cabin stays plush, exterior goes a bit villain, and the launch control makes you laugh before the speedo makes you think twice. If the V8 stays, wonderful. If it’s a brawny hybrid, also fine—just keep the noise honest.

DIY trail toy: Toyota’s purposely “incomplete” mini-4x4

A small, simple Toyota 4x4 designed to be finished by you? I’m listening. Give us clean approach/departure angles, uncomplicated electrics, accessory-ready mounts, and a parts catalog wide enough to drown in. It’s very Jimny in spirit, but with Toyota’s scale. I can already see the first long-weekend project: tires, bash plates, and a winch if you’re feeling optimistic about your friends’ maps.

Reality check: Driver aids are not chauffeurs

A Tesla driver reportedly nodded off and punted a police car. That’s not a tech story; it’s a human one. Lane centering and adaptive cruise are brilliant, but they’re not pilots in the aviation sense. I let assistance do the boring bits on the Hume, but I keep a confident hand on the wheel and eyes up. The tech is a helper, not a babysitter—treat it that way.

Lexus Supercar: how it fits into 2025’s performance landscape

The timing is perfect. EVs are getting quicker and more usable; the market still wants a heartbeat and a bit of drama. A Lexus Supercar with an upgraded V8 and hybrid brains could thread the needle—analog feel, digital cleverness. The trick will be maintaining that Lexus restraint. Let the numbers impress, sure, but let the experience do the selling.

Today’s quick hits

• Lexus Supercar stirs the soul with talk of an upgraded V8—hybrid twist likely.
• Toyota targets 2027 for a solid-state EV; Mazda wants the emissions math to be honest.
• Skoda Kodiaq PHEV eyes ~100 km EV range; Hyundai Elexio aims at value.
• Mitsubishi questions BYD Shark’s off-road stamina; 2026 Nissan Navara goes full Aussie.
• Volkswagen issues a Tiguan recall; don’t put it off.
• Nissan Elgrand doubles down on lounge life; Range Rover’s sportiest gets meaner.
• Toyota’s mini-4x4 arrives intentionally unfinished—spanners highly recommended.

Conclusion: the Lexus Supercar keeps the flame lit

This week’s through line is balance. The Lexus Supercar promises a V8 soundtrack with modern brains, while Toyota, Skoda, and Hyundai nudge electrification into everyday life. Australia’s utes are where theory meets red dirt—and that’s where the truth shows up. Through it all, the basics never age: comfortable seats, clear sightlines, and a driver who stays awake. Funny how progress still needs common sense.

FAQ

• When will Toyota’s solid-state EV arrive?
  Toyota is targeting 2027 for a high-power EV using solid-state batteries.
• How far will the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV drive on electricity?
  Skoda is aiming for roughly 100 km of WLTP electric range—plenty for most commutes and school runs.
• Is the Hyundai Elexio confirmed for Australia?
  Yes. Hyundai has confirmed Elexio for Australia, with detailed specs to follow closer to launch.
• What’s happening with the VW Tiguan recall?
  A local recall has been issued. Owners will be contacted by Volkswagen or can book with a dealer for a free fix.
• Will the new Lexus Supercar be hybrid?
  Lexus hasn’t published details, but an upgraded V8 with some electrification is a strong possibility given current performance trends.