Quick Shift: EVs Charge Ahead, Family SUVs Multiply, and Motorsport Keeps Us Honest

I love mornings when the news brew has both volts and V8s. Today’s cup brings fresh charging tech from Volvo, a double hit from Hyundai, a RAV4 that’s raided the GR parts bin, and a reminder from the racing world that safety gear is the best mod you’ll never see. Settle in; we’re sprinting from Australia to Europe to Suzuka.

EV Pulse: Faster Top-Ups and Sharper Faces

Volvo EX30 to debut new charging tech in Australia

Volvo’s pint-sized EX30 is getting a meaningful 2026 update that debuts new charging tech in Australia. The brand isn’t tossing around gimmicks here—this is aimed at quicker, more consistent top-ups and broader compatibility across public networks. In a country where a great fast-charger can be three postcodes away, that matters. When I tested an EX30 previously, it already managed heat and preconditioning better than most budget EVs; if this update smooths the charging curve further, school-run owners will notice the minutes saved.

Cupra Born facelift lands March 5

Over in Europe, Cupra will give the Born a sharper look on March 5. The Born was already the extrovert cousin to the ID.3; expect cleaned-up surfacing, angrier eyes, and the same street-friendly footprint that still fits London bays without a three-point turn. If Cupra sprinkles in software polish or a range bump, all the better.

EVs grab 20% market share in Europe

Context: one in five new cars sold in Europe last month didn’t have an engine. That’s mainstream, not niche. It also puts pressure on brands to fix the little things—public charging reliability, route planning that doesn’t lie, and cabins that don’t squeak when it’s 2°C and wet.

• What I’m watching: whether Volvo’s EX30 charging update trickles to other models—and how Cupra balances design flair with software depth on the Born.

Hyundai’s Two-Front Attack: Elexio and Palisade

2026 Hyundai Elexio reviewed

Early reviews of Hyundai’s Chinese-market Elexio are in, and the verdict reads like a backhanded compliment: it gets so much right, and that’s the frustrating part. The platform polish is there—typical Hyundai ride compliance and tidy body control—but some execution details (infotainment flow, feature packaging) leave testers wishing for that last 10% of cohesion. It’s a familiar Hyundai story: ambition out front, iteration right behind. If this is a preview of how Hyundai packages its next wave of mainstream EVs globally, count me curious.

Palisade Hybrid for more families, “very soon” in Australia

On the big-family side, Hyundai’s Palisade line-up is set to expand in Australia very soon, with a more affordable Hybrid Elite joining the range. That lowers the cost of entry to seven- or eight-seat hybrid motoring—an answer to exactly what parents have been moaning about at Saturday sport. If Hyundai keeps the cabin quiet and the e-motor smooth, it’ll hit the sweet spot for commuters who don’t want a diesel rumble at idle.

Compact SUV Shuffle: GR Bits, New Hybrids, and a Chinese Charge

RAV4 GR Sport raids the GR catalog

Toyota’s RAV4 GR Sport is getting a broader spread of Gazoo Racing parts. Think bolt-ons that actually move the needle: firmer springs, potentially beefier anti-roll hardware, wheels that fill the arches properly, and aero or trim that doesn’t scream “wrap job”. I’ve driven plenty of RAV4s that felt one good damper tune away from fun—this could be the nudge.

Suzuki Vitara goes hybrid for 2026

Fresh price and spec details are out for the 2026 Suzuki Vitara Hybrid. Expect the usual Suzuki virtues—light weight, honest steering, easy city manners—now with significantly better fuel numbers than the old petrol-only versions. The caveat with small hybrids is always highway pull; around town, they’re little marvels.

Chery’s new Western offensive

Chery is launching a new brand, Lepas, with a RAV4-sized SUV aimed squarely at Western buyers. If the price walks in under the Japanese and Euro stalwarts with credible safety and dealer support, established players will feel it. We’ve seen this movie: the third act is usually about residuals and software updates.

Deepal S05 driven: an Elroq rival from £38k

Autocar’s first taste of Changan’s Deepal S05 pegs it as a credible £38k rival to the Cupra Elroq. That’s not throwaway money, but if the cabin quality and driver assistance are on point, the S05 could be the one that makes UK customers stop and stare at a Chinese badge without flinching.

Big, Plush, and a Little Bonkers

Porsche’s “K1” to twin with Audi Q9

Porsche’s flagship SUV—internally dubbed “K1”—is shaping up as a twin to Audi’s Q9 with V6 and V8 power. It’ll be the halo on top of an already sky-high lineup, targeting buyers who want Cayenne Coupe pace with more lounge per square foot. If they nail rear-seat serenity and a proper sense of occasion, the Bentley showroom might look a touch quieter.

Dealers vs. the Dragon

Luxury SUV dealers in the UK are (publicly) unfazed by incoming Chinese rivals. They should keep one eye open. The threat isn’t one car; it’s a wave of consistent “good enough” SUVs with a killer price and software that updates in the background. Brand equity buys time, not immunity.

Yes, there’s a toilet

Also filing under “sentences I didn’t expect to write”: a toilet-equipped electric luxury SUV is edging toward Australia. Peak convenience? Peak absurdity? Both can be true. But hey, roadside coffee emergencies have met their match.

Performance and Oddities: A Funhouse Mirror

Audi RS5 gains weight, keeps its twinkle

Audi’s defending the new RS5’s weight gain, calling it “light on its feet.” That’s the 2026 performance car paradox: regulation, safety, and sound deadening add kilos, so chassis engineers spend their nights chasing agility with geometry, bushings, and torque-vectoring. If the steering stays talkative and the dampers earn their keep, few will care what the spec sheet says.

Honda Prelude is back in the chat

The iconic Prelude nameplate has returned to road-test rotations. The modern interpretation leans on hybrid smoothness more than VTEC shriek, but if Honda’s chassis gurus have their hands on it, there’ll be a sweetness to the way it turns and settles mid-corner. It’s a coupe for grown-ups who still remember cassette adapters.

Ford flirts with cars again, recalls sting

Ford’s Jim Farley is reopening the door to passenger cars after years of truck-and-SUV tunnel vision. Good. There’s room for a Blue Oval sedan or hatch that doesn’t mortgage the house. Meanwhile, a fresh recall leaves Escape and Lincoln Corsair PHEVs waiting on fixes—brand momentum is a fragile thing.

VW eyes Maverick… just not here

Volkswagen’s Tukan small pickup is gunning for trucks like the Ford Maverick, but it’s skipping this continent. Classic tease. Let’s hope the accountants find a way to build it where we actually buy it.

Nostalgia, meet invoice

Mini’s 1965 Special Edition will run you close to $50k. It’ll be gorgeous. It’ll also be proof that heritage is the most expensive option on any configurator. Elsewhere in cinema cars, a battle-scarred Barracuda with film cred surfaces—a trailer-park Bullitt vibe that’s part time capsule, part cautionary tale.

Reality Check: Fuel, Law, and Life

Real-world fuel economy? Most cars overpromise

A sweeping Australian test found almost 80% of cars overstate their fuel economy in real-world driving. Surprise? Not really. Lab cycles are tidy; life isn’t. Do your own brim-to-brim check, and if your commute is a cold start plus hills, don’t expect the brochure numbers. Hybrids narrow the gap, but they’re not magic.

A sobering slice of history

Autocar’s deep dive into the UK’s fight against drunk driving is a timely reminder that car culture matures, sometimes painfully. We romanticize the past; we shouldn’t romanticize its worst habits.

Car culture, human stakes

And in Australia, a son’s search for his late father’s stolen Holden Torana GTR XU-1 continues—an update that underlines how cars can be memory vaults, not just transport. If you’ve ever kept the service receipts in a shoebox, you understand.

Motorsport Corner: Speed, Safety, Strategy

Lappi’s Swedish smile

Esapekka Lappi left Rally Sweden grinning—a rally that rewards commitment and rhythm like few others. When the snow walls are your guardrails, confidence is a performance part.

F1’s 2026 Plan B: Super clipping

“Super clipping” is bubbling up as a potential Plan B for 2026 F1 rules—a more aggressive limit on energy deployment to keep speeds and raceability in check without mangling the hybrid brief. Think of it as a smarter governor: quicker in bursts, careful on the straights, and kinder to batteries.

HANS earns its keep at Suzuka

In Super Formula testing at Suzuka, Nirei Fukuzumi topped the times while Luke Browning survived a wild airborne moment at 130R, crediting the HANS device with saving his neck. That’s not PR fluff—it’s the difference between a scary highlight reel and a hospital stay. Racing is progress, measured in milliseconds and millimeters.

Today’s Takeaways

• Volvo’s EX30 charging update could save owners real time on imperfect Aussie infrastructure.
• Hyundai is broadening appeal at both ends: a polished-but-imperfect Elexio and a cheaper Palisade Hybrid for families.
• Compact SUVs keep evolving: GR parts for fun, hybrids for efficiency, and Chinese newcomers for value pressure.
• Performance cars are heavier but cleverer; safety tech in motorsport remains the unsung hero.

Conclusion

From faster charging to family-hauler hybrids, the industry’s 2026 arc is clear: do more, waste less, and make the clever stuff invisible. If brands can keep that promise while letting a few cars be gloriously silly—looking at you, toilet-SUV—we’ll have plenty to talk about this year.

FAQ

When does the refreshed Cupra Born debut?

March 5. Expect a sharper exterior and incremental updates to keep it competitive among compact EVs.

What’s changing on the 2026 Volvo EX30 in Australia?

It’s set to debut new charging tech aimed at quicker, more consistent fast-charging and broader network compatibility.

Is Hyundai adding a more affordable Palisade Hybrid?

Yes. A Palisade Hybrid Elite is joining the range in Australia “very soon,” lowering the hybrid entry point for big families.

Are Chinese SUVs really coming for Europe and Australia?

Yes. Models like Changan’s Deepal S05 (around £38k) and Chery’s new Lepas brand are targeting Western buyers with keen pricing and competitive tech.

What is “super clipping” in F1?

It’s a proposed approach to more tightly limit energy deployment from hybrid systems in 2026, aiming to balance speed, battery management, and racing quality.