Here’s how to get all your supporting documentation in order so that applying for a car loan is easy. 

If you’re considering applying for car finance, you’re going to need some documentation to support your application. 

Collating all the documents you need will take some time, but you can make the car financing process much smoother if you’re completely prepared. 

RELATED: Does novated leasing save you money?

Lenders are required to request these documents as part of their responsible lending criteria. Handing over these documents when asked will also mean that you can get your car loan approved more quickly.

What is car finance? 

Financing a car involves borrowing the money that you need to purchase the car. You can do this by approaching a bank and getting a loan from them, or you can get finance through your car dealer or a finance broker. 

Regardless of which way you go, you’re going to need to have the appropriate documents at hand ready to proceed. 

How do I get car finance? 

You’re going to meet some basic lending requirements, such as being 18 years of age or older, being an Australian citizen (or a permanent resident) and earning a regular income. 

What documents do I need to apply for car finance? 

Identification: You will need to take some identification along to have 100 points of ID. Of course, a drivers’ licence is a good start.  

Proof of citizenship: The lender will also want identification documents that provide citizenship information, and a list of dependents, including children or anyone else you care for in your home, such as elderly relatives. Some lenders may require additional information, such as your passport or Medicare card, so take that along too. 

Once the lender can verify your identity, they will want to see if you can afford to repay the loan, so you will need to confirm your income. 

To do this, you need to take along: 

Payslips: The most recent payslips issued by your employer.

Bank statements: The most recent statements highlighting your income and expenses for the last three months. The lender will also want to see how much you’ve got in savings.  

Proof of income: Tax returns or business activity statements (BAS) for the past two years – your tax return will verify your income, while your BAS statement and business financials will do the same thing if you’re self-employed. 

Proof of residence: Take along a recent utility bill or rates notice with your home address on the top as proof of residence. If you’re renting, take along your tenancy agreement.  

Proof of assets and liabilities: Lenders will ask you to bring along documentation that shows your assets and liabilities so they can determine your borrowing power. 

The lender will do this by taking your total income and subtracting your expenses, including loan and credit repayments, rent, utilities and discretionary spending. 

The lender will also apply ongoing costs of car ownership, including running costs, regular servicing and petrol, to determine whether you can meet repayment obligations. 

Debts: Documents that highlight your debt repayments, including mortgages, credit cards and personal loans. 

Assets: Documents about any assets that bolster your income, such as an investment property, stocks or other investments. 

Super: An annual statement showing your superannuation balance may be required by some lenders. 

Insurance: Lenders are going to want to check you’ve got comprehensive car insurance on the car before approving your application in the event that the car is involved in an accident or stolen before the paperwork is rubber stamped. Bring along this documentation.

Details of the car you want: If you’ve already decided which car you’re going to buy, they will want documents about the car you’re wanting to purchase. Make sure you’re armed with the make, model, registration number and the vehicle identification number, odometer reading if it’s second-hand, and any information about modifications are at hand. 

If you are purchasing the car through a dealer, an invoice or contract of sale will be requested. 

If you’re buying the car privately, you are likely to be asked about the condition of the vehicle, the registration, require an invoice, and details about the seller, including their driver’s licence and bank details for the loan payment to be made by the lender. 

Good luck. Being organised for the financing appointment will help you get behind the wheel sooner. 

The post What documents do you need to apply for car finance? appeared first on Drive.

The last ‘Gymkhana’ video to feature Ken Block – the rally ace turned stunt driver who made the series famous – has been released, less than a year after he was tragically killed in a snowmobile crash.

The end of an era has arrived, with the late rally driver Ken Block’s final ‘Gymkhana’ drift video uploaded to YouTube almost a year on from his untimely death.

Titled ‘Electrikhana Two: One More Playground‘, the video was filmed in November 2022 – one month after the first ‘Electrikhana’ feature premiered, and less than two months before Block was killed in a snowmobile crash.

Set in Mexico City, the video sees the return of the electric Audi S1 ‘Hoonitron’ – the only battery-powered vehicle to feature in Block’s videos, following the end of his decade-long association with Ford which was preceded by a relationship with Subaru.

While we won’t spoil the video, Mexico City provides a number of picturesque locations which juxtapose the brutal nature of Block’s driving, as he generates clouds of smoke with the all-wheel-drive Audi.

Previous videos have included behind-the-scenes montages as the credits roll, though Electrikhana 2 takes an emotional twist as it recaps Block’s Gymkhana videos through the years – from 2008 when he was an clothing company founder-turned-amateur rally driver, to 2022’s instalment.

Included in the final credits is a card which simply says ‘KB43VER’, referencing Block’s initials and long-time racing number – as well as the online address of the Ken Block Foundation/43 Institute, 43i.org.

Block’s wife Lucy and teenage daughter Lia have continued to race rally cars in the US this year, raising awareness for the 43 Institute by partnering with Block’s former co-driver Alex Gelsomino and his co-driving Australian wife Rhiannon Gelsomino, respectively. 

Lia Block was recently signed by legendary Formula One team Williams Racing to join its F1 Academy program, in which she will race next year.

The post Ken Block smokes out Mexico City in final ‘Gymkhana’ video appeared first on Drive.

From a first-generation Tesla Roadster, to a BMW Z8 and a DeLorean DMC-12, the former boxing world champion’s collection has a bit of everything.

Former heavyweight boxing world champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur George Foreman is auctioning off 52 vehicles from his collection. 

Listed on Hagerty Marketplace, Foreman’s collection features a bit of everything, with a heavy focus on American performance cars. 

It’s worth noting while every vehicle up for auction has been listed without a reserve, the majority still have reasonably low mileage, meaning few bargains will likely be had. 

Headlining the collection is a red 2005 Ford GT with 1274km on the odometer. 

At the time of writing, the leading bid sat at $US325,000 for the GT, with 12 days remaining on the auction. 

Though not as valuable, another interesting American car up for sale is a DeLorean DMC-12 with 144,325km on the odometer. 

This DMC-12 was first owned by Johnny Carson, who found fame as a late-night television host in America and was also an early investor in the DeLorean company. 

There are also six Chevrolet Corvettes up for grabs, consisting of two first-generation models, two second-generation coupes, a fourth-generation convertible, and a fifth-generation convertible. 

Arguably the most interesting of this bunch is the latter pairing.

The first is the Corvette C4, which has undergone the Callaway Twin Turbo conversion, and the second, is the Corvette C5, with a twin-turbo Lingenfelter Performance kit.  

Finally, the last notable American-made car in this bunch is a 1999 Plymouth Prowler. 

As one of the more controversial cars to come from the now-defunct manufacturer, the Prowler has since gained a cult following for its polarising hot rod styling. 

Though European cars aren’t as plentiful in Foreman’s collection, there are still a number of notable entries.

A 2002 Ferrari 360 spider with a six-speed manual transmission is arguably the most sought-after of this bunch, with the top bid currently sitting at $US130,000. 

Next up is a white 1987 Ferrari Testarossa which also features a manual transmission, and has 5741km on its odometer. 

Possibly the most obscure of the German vehicles in Foreman’s collection is a 2000 BMW Z8 with 7479km on its odometer.

Though the majority of the cars in Foreman’s collection are powered by V8 engines, a pair of electric vehicles have also made the cut. 

These include a 2008 Tesla Roadster and a 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition.

The post George Foreman’s eclectic car collection heads to auction appeared first on Drive.

Targa Tasmania and its two sister rallies won’t go ahead this year or next year, as the organisation behind the iconic event attempts to improve safety following multiple competitor fatalities in recent years.

The next running of Australia’s most beloved motorsport events, the Targa Tasmania, has been delayed until 2025.

Targa Australia – the organisation behind the Targa Tasmania – has announced the annual tarmac rally won’t go ahead in 2024, however the Tasmanian Government has announced its support for the event from 2025 to 2029.

It is believed all events run by the coordinators have been postponed to 2025, including Targa High Country in Victoria, and Targa Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

“In recent weeks it has become clear that the full scope of work needed for a successful return makes running the event in April 2024 an unachievable task,” Targa CEO Mark Perry said in a written statement.

In July 2023, Targa suspended all events indefinitely and cut ties with the country’s peak motorsports governing body, Motorsport Australia, after the deaths of four competitors within 12 months – and cancelled the 2023 event.

Targa had implemented all 23 recommendations made by Motorsports Australia to improve safety following the first three fatalities in 2021, before a fourth competitor lost their life in the running of the 2022 event.

MORE: Targa Australia cancels road races indefinitely after split from governing body

“While the further delay of our return will be sad news for thousands of people, we must ensure we get everything right first,” Mr Perry said.

This delay will enable us to finalise a number of key components while also fully supporting the ongoing coronial inquest which should see us in a position to implement all relevant recommendations from this process for the 2025 Targa Tasmania.

“Targa will continue to work tirelessly throughout 2024, maintaining regular communications with the many thousands of people around the world who follow the event, with the clear aim of implementing a myriad of positive changes in preparation for a much-anticipated return in 2025.”

The post Targa Tasmania postponed until 2025 appeared first on Drive.

The advancement of manufacturing and strong work ethic place China at the forefront of the electric car war, says Tesla boss.

Elon Musk says the biggest competitors to US electric car maker Tesla lie off-shore – in China.

Speaking at the 2023 New York Times DealBook Summit – where the billionaire stirred controversy with his comments regarding the ‘X’ social media platform – the Tesla CEO said the rapid competitiveness of Chinese brands is a challenge for all car makers.

“Electric car sales in China are gigantic … Chinese car companies are extremely competitive,” said Musk.

“By far Tesla’s competition is in China. There are a lot of people out there who think that the top 10 car companies are going to be Tesla followed by nine Chinese car companies. I think they might not be wrong,” the Tesla boss said.

“China is super good at manufacturing, and the work ethic is incredible. If we consider different leagues of competitiveness at Tesla, we consider the Chinese league to be the most competitive.”

In 2022, 59 per cent of the world’s electric vehicle sales were in China, according to the World Economic Forum, with Tesla having opened its own factory in Shanghai in 2019.

“Tesla has one of four factories in China, and China is a quarter of our market,” Mr Musk said.

“The same is true, by the way, of all the other car companies — they also have something in the order of a quarter of their sales in China. So if that’s a problem for Tesla it’s a problem for every car company.”

The comments come as Chinese electric and hybrid-electric car maker is set to steal Tesla’s crown as the world’s best-selling electric vehicle brand for 2023.

BYD manufactured its six-millionth vehicle in November 2023, while Tesla is yet to reach the milestone, producing its five-millionth car in September 2023.

BYD, which does not sell cars on Tesla’s home turf USA, is on track to produce a total of 2.5 million electric and electric hybrid vehicles in 2023.

That will surpass Tesla, which is forecast to meet its production goal of 1.8 million cars built.

BYD launched in Australia in late 2022 with the Atto 3 electric SUV, before opening order books for the Dolphin and the Seal in late 2023.

At its current sales rate, the Chinese car maker is set to sell more than 10,000 electric vehicles in Australia in 2023.

The post Elon Musk fears China more than Tesla’s US rivals appeared first on Drive.

If you need to warm up your electric car’s battery, a toaster is not recommended to do the job safely.

An electric-car owner in Denmark has found out the hard way that a do-it-yourself solution to extend a battery-powered vehicle’s range can have drastic – and potentially fatal – consequences.

According to the Associated Press, Danish police claim the electric car caught fire after its owner placed a live toaster underneath the vehicle – which was parked under a carport – in an attempt to warm its battery.

In cold environments, an electric car’s battery does not operate as efficiently, causing it to lose charge at a faster rate than in warmer temperatures.

The fire not only destroyed the unnamed electric car but also caused damage to a nearby home, though no injuries have been reported as a result of the incident.

The publication reports the electric car’s owner faces a fine, while Danish police have “strongly discouraged” the use of a toaster to warm a vehicle’s battery.

As previously reported, there have only been six reported vehicle fires caused by electric-car batteries in Australia.

In all six cases, the battery which sparked the fire had been damaged – either intentionally or accidentally – but none of these incidents involved electric cars which were charging at the time.

In New South Wales alone, there were 2942 vehicle fires (including those powered by petrol, diesel or electricity) in the state between July 2020 to June 2021.

The post Toaster causes electric car fire in Denmark – report appeared first on Drive.

If you buy the most expensive version of a low-priced small SUV, do you end up with a true top-tier product, or are you adrift somewhere between budget-basic and first-rate flagship?

2023 MG ZST Essence

Come one, come all. With a variety of different models, varied powertrains, and a range of price points, the MG ZS might be one of Australia’s most versatile small SUVs.

The line-up may be a little baffling. Between the basic ZS, more up-to-date ZST, or the ZS EV ranges, MG’s small SUV looks after value-conscious shoppers and spans a price span from $23,990 drive-away for the entry-level up to the mid-$53,000 mark (depending on location) for a fully-loaded long-range EV.

Within the petrol line-up the ZST offers the broadest choice, and in top-shelf ZST Essence guise offers a sharp drive-away price and a full swag of equipment that makes small SUV rivals look a little out of touch in comparison.

With a perky turbocharged 1.3-litre engine under the bonnet, space for up to five occupants, and dimensions that feel right at home in the city, the MG ZST shows that MG understands what buyers want. The ZS’s position as the strongest-selling small SUV in Australia – by a considerable margin – further backs that up.

So that must mean the ZST is good, right? Over 25,000 buyers across the ZS ranges to the end of October 2023 agree, but what’s the MG ZST really like?

How much does the MG ZST cost in Australia?

If you’re interested in an MG ZST, there are a few things to consider.

The cheaper Core and Vibe models come with a non-turbo 1.5-litre engine and CVT automatic. Not the most performance-skewed combo, with 84kW and 150Nm – just 2kW less than the smaller, lighter MG 3 hatch. Pricing from $26,990 might be sharp, but that’s about all that is.

Most buyers might find the ZST Excite and Essence models a bit more useful for the cut and thrust of traffic, with a 1.3-litre three-cylinder turbo engine under the bonnet, and 115kW/230Nm to play with. The Excite is a $31,990 proposition, while the Essence shown here starts from $33,990 – all drive-away.

No MG ZS model offers all-wheel drive, but in the Essence you will find features like 17-inch alloy wheels, front seat heating, a powered driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, and a fully digital instrument cluster.

That’s on top of features found in other models, like faux-leather interior trim, a 10.1-inch infotainment system, keyless entry and start, 360-degree camera, and a long list of safety and driver assist features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more.

The only extra-cost option is metallic paint, at $700.

Looking at competitors, fellow budget brand GWM offers the similarly equipped Haval Jolion from $33,990 drive-away, Mitsubishi offers the ageing but still popular ASX LS and GSR priced either side of the ZST Essence, but newer small SUVs like the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Qashqai both feature entry-level pricing higher than the most expensive ZST model (but in the case of Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Hyundai your drive-away price will vary by location).

How much space does the MG ZST have inside?

MG is reasonably generous with internal dimensions in the ZST, but as you might expect there are some compromises.

The seats themselves offer plenty of room, in both the first- and second-row. Up front, the seats feel quite high, and for the driver the combination of high front seat and low steering wheel (which only adjusts for tilt, not reach) means finding the right seating position can be difficult.

The front seats don’t offer much in the way of lateral or lumbar support and are clearly set up for short drives, rather than long-distance comfort. The list of interior features is plump, though, with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, one-touch up/down windows on all four doors, and an opening panoramic sunroof with powered blind.

The steering wheel is listed as leather-trimmed, but the seats are only leather-look, trimmed in synthetic substitutes.

In the rear seats things are interesting. There’s a generous amount of leg room and there’s a trio of seatbelts… but only two headrests. This means an adult in the middle has no whiplash protection in the event of a collision, making for a dangerous omission.

The rear seats lack a few touches found elsewhere in the segment. There are no air vents in the rear, no centre armrest and no cupholders. The rear pillar can encroach on entry and egress, and the tapered roof line doesn’t offer a lot of space for tall adults.

The rear seat has a 60:40 split, allowing the 359-litre boot to open up to 1187L, but the boot feels a touch narrow, with a lot of space taken up by the rear wheel wells. The boot has a two-position floor, so you can create a level floor with the seats folded, or just use it as a second storage tier.

Does the MG ZST have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

MG was early to adopt a big, colourful 10.1-inch infotainment display, but hasn’t kept rolling out updates, so the ZST’s infotainment feels a little bit laggy compared to other brands with newer, snappier systems. It can fail to respond to user inputs, requiring multiple taps, and the screen lacks the brightness to cope with bright sunny days.

The onscreen menu layout is fairly simple, and a row of shortcut keys allows you to jump between key functions. While there’s a screen for what looks like climate control, you’re really only operating manual air conditioning and ventilation with a digital display. There’s no temperature dial (just a colder or hotter slider) and no set-and-forget ‘auto’ mode.

The ZST does provide plenty of device connectivity with a pair of front USB-A ports, one of which is for the wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring. There’s another up front for your dash cam, next to the rear-view mirror, and two more in the rear for rear-seat passengers.

Alongside phone mirroring there’s Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation, and AM/FM radio. The navigation system is handy to have, but it’s also slow to load and a bit dated in its mapping layout, you’ll have a better time using Waze, Apple Maps, or Google Maps via your phone. There’s no external connectivity via a smartphone companion app for the ZST, unlike some other MG models.

The Essence is the only ZST model to get a ‘virtual instrument cluster’, but rather than being able to pick and choose what you’d like to see, there’s a handful of trip computer displays, and every time you start the car or engage cruise control, the system defaults to the MG Pilot driver-assist screen, which can be annoying.

Is the MG ZST a safe car?

The entire petrol-powered MG ZS range carries a four-star safety rating awarded in 2017. This rating was conducted before the better-equipped ZST range went on sale, so was conducted before features like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assist were added.

In 2019, the ZS EV was given a five-star score, and features a range of safety systems more closely aligned with that of the ZST, though because of potential differences in weight distribution and construction, the ZS EV’s five-star score doesn’t automatically carry across to the ZST.

What safety technology does the MG ZST have?

MG uses the term MG Pilot to describe its safety suite, and all ZST models include features like forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind spot and rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, 360-degree camera, and intelligent speed recognition.

The safety suite looks good on paper, but can be a bit of a boy who cried wolf, with chimes and notifications for events you probably don’t need to know about. Each time there’s a break in road markings or you drop below 50km/h you’ll get a ‘lane keep assist quit’ warning, and other times you’ll get beeped at with no clear distinction what for.

The adaptive cruise control system is easy enough to live with, but there are some smarter, more fluent versions of this tech in rival small SUVs. I’m not a big fan of the hidden cruise-control stalk when clearer on-wheel controls are found elsewhere, but once you’re familiar it shouldn’t pose a problem.

MG could fine-tune this system further (and it has done so in other newer models in its range), but the ZST’s price point may be holding it back here.

How much does the MG ZST cost to maintain?

MG owners can keep an eye on upcoming service pricing via the MG website, with a nationwide capped-price service program. Each service is set at 12-month or 10,000km intervals (just a little under the Australian travel average per year) and each service has a different price (unlike some brands that even out pricing each year). Stand by to pay up to $547 for the four-year/40,000km visit, but other services are more wallet-friendly. Over three years you’ll pay $896, and over five years service costs tally up to $1708.

MG offers a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty for privately owned and used cars across its vehicle range. Vehicles used for rideshare, delivery, or other commercial purposes at any stage in the first seven years have a 160,000km limit applied, which still lets you cover up to just under 23,000km per year.

Roadside assistance also spans the warranty period and covers things like changing a flat tyre, jump-starting a flat battery, conducting basic roadside repairs – or where not possible, towing your car to an MG service centre.

While the buy-in price may be low, an annual insurance quote for the ZST Essence came in at $1482 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Our ZST quote was less than that of a GWM Haval Jolion ($1580) but higher than an ASX ($1246).

Is the MG ZST fuel-efficient?

The MG ZST carries an official fuel consumption claim of 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres for the 1.3-litre turbo engine – on a combined highway-city cycle. On the urban cycle, the ZST carries a 9.2L/100km rating, and on the highway cycle a 6.2L/100km claim. For a compact SUV that’s a touch heavy, and in a week of mixed driving we used an average of 9.5L/100km – a figure more like what you’d expect to see from a larger, more powerful SUV.

The ZST can run on regular unleaded, with no need for premium, which may help ease the pain at the pump a little.

Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp

What is the MG ZST like to drive?

While the equipment list of the ZST Essence is generous, some of the corner-cutting to deliver that amount of content and keep the price low reveals itself on the road. While the ZST isn’t terrible to drive, it is a little off the pace in a few areas – but for anyone seeking simple A-to-B transport, those issues may not even matter.

With a turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 115kW and 230Nm doing the heavy lifting, the ZST is competitive with other cars in its class. Better still, the nature of a modern turbo engine, and its low-down torque, means that the ZST feels robust around town – if not particularly swift.

With drive sent to the front wheels via a traditional six-speed automatic, power is fed in predictably and smoothly. It’s easy to creep forward or backward slowly as you park, and if you need to push harder, to get up to freeway speed, there’s no droning. Setting off from a stop into traffic revealed a bit of a pause-and-stumble action to get underway, not perfect, but not too concerning.

The steering is nice and light, but you don’t get a connected feel for what the front wheels are doing. It’s a bit more like a video game experience. I found the steering a little light on freeway cruises, though it is variable, being lighter at parking speeds and slightly heavier at high speed. It’s not darty or twitchy, though.

On country roads, it handles just fine, but again, without top marks. It can put up with a series of corners, and doesn’t stumble too badly over bumps and potholes, but ask it to fend off mid-corner bumps or deal with a series of successive undulations and you can feel the suspension struggle to keep up, with the front and rear wheels feeling out of sync.

It is quiet enough for longer trips, and settled enough so as not to alarm the driver or passengers – just don’t expect it to set any new benchmarks for the segment.

Should I buy an MG ZST?

If you go in with your eyes open, and realise that buying a small SUV with a relatively small price tag won’t necessarily get you a five-star experience, then the MG ZST may be for you.

It puts forward a good enough drive, an attractive level of standard equipment, and a drivetrain that’s very much capable, without over-delivering.

This is not my first week with a ZST, and the first time around I came away pleased that MG had done as good a job as it had, but very aware that elsewhere in the segment you can do a little better. On the other hand, you may also have to pay more for that privilege.

On balance, the ZST Essence has a little room for improvement (don’t we all?), but certainly doesn’t necessarily under-deliver for buyers who put value for money front and centre.

How do I buy an MG ZST – next steps?

While we drove the ZST Essence for this review, you can also find the same powertrain in the slightly cheaper ZST Excite (from $31,990 drive-away), but for the extra $2000 to step up to the Essence, you get a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, a powered driver’s seat, and a digital instrument display, plus a handful of other small styling details that make it look like solid value.

We’d recommend sticking with these two top-spec models, as other variants in the range switch to a less-powerful non-turbo engine and CVT automatic that aren’t as useful in real-world driving situations.

There’s no shortage of stock at MG dealers around the country, so delivery delays aren’t likely to be an issue. You can check out new and near-new MG ZSTs listed for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale, or you can locate your nearest dealer here.

If you want to keep up to date on the latest MG news, keep an eye on the Drive news desk at this link.

The post 2023 MG ZST Essence review appeared first on Drive.

A trial of 300 right-hand-drive Toyota Tundras with customers across Australia is underway, before – pending the program’s success – the pick-up is given the green light for showrooms after 12 months.

A fleet of 300 new right-hand-drive, remanufactured Toyota Tundra pick-ups will hit Australian roads over the next 12 months as part of a world-first viability trial with customers before it is given the green light for showrooms.

Toyota Australia will hand-pick customers to lease and drive 280 of the 300 Toyota Tundra evaluation vehicles on roads around the country before deciding whether to offer the pick-up for general sale across the country.

The Tundra is built in the US before it is shipped to Australia and remanufactured from left- to right-hand drive by former Holden Special Vehicles engineering firm Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Melbourne.

The vehicles will be released to a group of hand-picked Toyota customers on a full-service (but subsidised), $2500-per-month lease plan which requires customers to provide feedback on their ownership experience every one to three months.

MORE: Exclusive – Strict rules for Toyota Tundra trial customers in Australia exposed

As part of the real-world evaluation program, participants pay $2500 per month for the Toyota Tundra Limited, with scheduled servicing, mechanical repairs, replacement tyres, and roadside assistance covered under the deal.

Comprehensive insurance, third-party insurance, and registration is also covered by the monthly lease repayments.

Toyota says the lease is subsidised, considering the feedback customers must provide to Toyota as part of the arrangement.

The cohort selected by head office which will tasked with testing the vehicles has already been chosen from a pool of previous Toyota customers – nominated by dealers – and those experienced in towing heavy loads.

There will be 300 vehicles in the next phase of the program – 280 of which will be sold to customers, and 20 planned for internal use within Toyota Australia.

“[We] went through our dealer network with a criteria of what we wanted. A cross section of different diverse driving conditions, whether it be city, whether it be country, towing,” Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley told media gathered at an initial preview drive of the Tundra.

“It was all done through our dealer network. So dealers took expressions of interest and then we went through the customer list and chose thereafter.”

The Tundra Insider Program kicked off in late November 2023 for initial deliveries and will ramp-up to get all examples out to customers by April 2024.

Walkinshaw’s remanufacturing capability stands at 50 cars per month at present, though will be expanded in the future if the project is approved for a formal showroom debut.

The engineering firm already handles left- to right-hand-drive conversions for Chevrolet and Ram pick-up trucks, also backed by their head offices in the US.

“We know there is a demand for full-size pickups like the Tundra but we wanted to ensure that the local right-hand drive conversion, and the vehicle as a whole, met Toyota’s exacting standards for quality and the needs of our customers,” Mr Hanley said.

“Toyota has never undertaken a project like this before and we look forward to hearing what these first customers think and feel about the new Toyota Tundra,” said Mr Hanley.

Only after this 12-month trial has taken place will Toyota decide on the Tundra’s fate in Australia. However Toyota has said it is not undertaking this project expecting it to fail at the last hurdle.

“We’re certainly not doing this not to launch the car. I mean, that’s a fair comment, but we still have a quality criteria that we must reach with our parent company… and this is not a confirmed position for Toyota,” said Mr Hanley.

The process to bring the Tundra to Australia began five years ago, with Toyota selecting the Walkinshaw Automotive Group to remanufacture the vehicle.

Testing has taken place at proving grounds and on Australian roads since, with the trial now opened up to selected Toyota customers.

Thanks to the new-generation Toyota Tundra sharing its TNGA-F underpinnings with the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Lexus LX, the conversion process utilises the steering rack, firewall, wiring harness, pedals, heating and ventilation systems (including the blower motor), and carpeting and trims from the LandCruiser or LX.

The sole specification Toyota offers for now is the Tundra Limited, which pairs a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with hybrid assistance.

Toyota calls the system “i-Force Max” and it pairs a 290kW/650Nm petrol motor with a 36kW/250Nm electric motor-generator – and a 6.5Ah nickel metal hydride battery – for combined system outputs of 326kW and 790Nm.

Power is sent through a 10-speed automatic transmission to a dual-range all-wheel-drive system, while distinct driving modes include Eco, Normal, and Sport.

It also stocks a separate Tow mode which primes the car’s throttle response, shift points, steering, and even aerodynamics for heavy haulage of up to 4500kg.

From the dealership the Tundra comes with a 50mm tow ball and tongue rated to haul 3500kg, but is capable of towing 4500kg with the appropriate tongue and ball accessory.

Toyota is also trialling other specifications – such as the Tundra Capstone luxury version – internally, but at the moment the official trial focuses solely on the Tundra Limited.

Check back on Drive on 18 January 2024 to read and watch a first-drive review of the right-hand-drive 2024 Toyota Tundra Limited.

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We finally know for sure the size, powertrains and features of Toyota’s biggest-ever ute in Australia – coming to a road near you.

Australia is becoming a new battleground for American-designed-and-built pick-up trucks and Toyota wants its Tundra in on the action.

The carmaker is currently trialling up to 300 examples of the Tundra on local roads over the next 12 months to gather information and ultimately inform the decision of whether to offer the Toyota Tundra for general sale in Australia.  

RELATED: ‘Yank Tanks’ – Drivers bemoan the rise of large US utes in Aus
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It’s the first time anywhere in the world Toyota has taken a vehicle built in one country, shipped it to another, re-engineered it and undertaken final assembly with a local partner, with plans to still sell it as a Toyota model inside its own dealerships.

That local partner is the Walkinshaw Automotive Group (formerly responsible for Holden Special Vehicles), which already remanufactures rival American trucks the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado.

We’ve been given an inside look at how Toyota is remanufacturing the Tundra from left- to right-hand drive, and we’ve even spent time behind the wheel.

Stay tuned for the full Toyota Tundra review in late January 2024, but for the time being here are the details we can share.

It’s coming as a hybrid

Though Toyota’s coy about saying it, the Toyota Tundra coming to Australia is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with hybrid assistance – referred to as the i-Force Max powertrain. This is because the hybrid system doesn’t operate like regular Toyota hybrid systems, which are designed to prioritise fuel efficiency.

Instead, the battery-powered portion of the i-Force Max system is intended to provide ultimate pulling power and outputs a combined 326kW and 790Nm. This comes mated to a dual-range four-wheel-drive system.

It will also mean the Tundra moves away from a standstill using electric power, with the engine kicking in at higher speeds. No official word yet on whether this hybridisation will result in improved fuel economy.

It’s MUCH bigger than the Toyota HiLux

Yes, the Toyota Tundra is bigger than the Toyota HiLux – and by a large margin. Comparing the Toyota Tundra with a CrewMax body and a 5.5-foot tub against a Toyota HiLux SR5 dual-cab, the former is larger in length, width, height, wheelbase, track widths, and tub size.

You can read a full rundown on how the two utes compare here.

It’ll be a towing powerhouse

Whether you’re towing horse floats, cars, agriculture equipment or a big boat, the Toyota Tundra has you covered with a 4500kg braked towing capacity. Toyota’s priority for introducing this car to the Australian market is its ability to haul big items, and the carmaker surveyed all kinds of customers who tow in the project development phase.

It also stocks in-built towing technology such as an integrated brake controller and tow system that automatically adjusts shift points, throttle response, and even aerodynamics. The front of the Tundra has a drop-down spoiler that adjusts as soon as you hook up a trailer on the rear end.

The Toyota Tundra’s gross vehicle mass (GVM) is 3536kg and the gross combination mass (GCM) is 7825kg. The Toyota Tundra runs a 70mm tow ball.

It’s built for long drives and has a huge fuel tank

In its positioning as a heavy-duty tow vehicle, the Toyota Tundra also prioritises long-distance comfort.

As well as a huge cabin in both rows, it features coil springs with a rear multi-link suspension system that balances load capability and ride composure.

It also comes with a huge 122-litre fuel tank and Bridgestone highway-terrain tyres.

Australia will get a mid-spec variant

Toyota Australia is only looking at one mid-specification offering in the Tundra line-up – the Tundra Limited with a CrewMax body and a short tub.

The carmaker says there are some individual studies it’s undertaking with other variants in the Tundra line-up, but at the moment the official trial solely focuses on the Tundra Limited.

It marks a big shift for Toyota

The introduction of the Toyota Tundra to Australia is a big deal for Toyota globally because the manufacturer has never taken a vehicle from one country and re-engineered it in another (inside a non-Toyota factory, no less).

Globally, Toyota holds strict quality control levels for engine performance, quality, and dynamics, which must be upheld in the switch from left- to right-hand drive. Toyota Australia is aiming for an OEM factory level for quality standards.

As such, the eyes of head office are fixed firmly on how this trial process goes. The project to bring the Toyota Tundra began back in 2018 where Toyota Australia selected “second-stage manufacturer” Walkinshaw as its remanufacturing partner.

Many of the parts required for the remanufacturing process have been sourced from elsewhere within the Toyota product line-up. Because the Toyota Tundra is built around the TNGA-F vehicle platform, parts-sharing between the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series and Lexus LX has been made possible.

The level of standard equipment is impressive

Though it’s not the flagship Tundra Capstone variant coming to Australia, the Limited specification on offer still comes equipped with an impressive array of styling, technology, and convenience features.

On the outside the Toyota Tundra is highlighted by 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a tub management system with moveable tie-down points, and power-folding exterior mirrors.

Inside the cabin it features black synthetic leather seats with heating and ventilation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, a 14-inch infotainment system, 12-speaker JBL stereo, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and AM/FM/DAB+ radio.

Safety is also well covered off thanks to Toyota’s Safety Sense system. This includes a pre-collision system with day and night pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera monitor.

There are eight airbags and two rear ISOFIX points.

An Australian launch is still TBC

An Australian launch is the one thing we cannot confirm for certain. Toyota is undertaking this 12-month viability trial to assess the remanufacturing process and the overall quality of the vehicle before confirming whether the Tundra will make it to dealerships.

Up to 50 vehicles will be converted from left- to right-hand drive by Walkinshaw every month, according to Toyota, and the trial will run until late 2024.

However, Toyota has said that it’s not undertaking this giant project in order for it to fail at the last hurdle.

“We’re certainly not doing this not to launch the car. I mean, that’s a fair comment, but we still have quality criteria that we must reach with our parent company… and this is not a confirmed position for Toyota,” said Toyota Australia sales and marketing boss Sean Hanley.

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One of two mid-size electric SUVs being considered for Australia by Chinese-owned brand MG has appeared early in patent images.

Images of a mid-size electric SUV being developed by Chinese car maker MG – which appears to be named the eHS – have surfaced online ahead of its expected introduction in 2025.

It is the successor to the Marvel R, a Tesla Model Y or Toyota RAV4-sized electric SUV built exclusively in left-hand drive and sold by MG in Europe for the past two years.

Whereas the outgoing Marvel R was designed by Roewe, another car brand owned by MG’s parent company SAIC – but sold in Europe under the MG brand – patent images show the new model will be an MG from Day One.

And unlike its predecessor, it will be built in right-hand drive from 2025, according to the UK’s Autocar – opening the door for an Australian launch.

MG Australia executives have previously expressed interest in the new car – alongside another Tesla Model Y-rivalling electric SUV, the $100,000 IM Motors LS6, which is under consideration for local showrooms.

The images above and below were published by the European Intellectual Property Office website, and show a mid-size electric SUV with styling similar to the MG 5 sedan, and upcoming MG 3 city hatch.

Zooming into the tailgate shows an ‘eHS’ badge – positioning it as an electric alternative to the petrol-powered MG HS on sale in Australia since 2020, and due for a facelift here next year.

Confusingly, the plug-in hybrid version of the MG HS is still sold in mainland Europe as the eHS.

According to Autocar, the new mid-size SUV will be underpinned by the Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) platform – also known as Nebula – debuted beneath the MG 4 electric hatch on sale in Australia now.

The platform can accomodate battery capacities of up to 150kWh – more than twice the size of the 70kWh pack in the current MG Marvel R, which is good for up to 370km of claimed WLTP driving range.

Autocar reports growing MG sales in the UK and Australia since the Marvel R went on sale in Europe in 2021 have “prompted MG to rethink” its decision not to build the car in right-hand drive.

“The appearance of this car is great, and the price will make it competitive,” MG ‘business unit’ general manager Lu Jiajun told the outlet.

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