Today’s Auto Brief: Ford Ranger gets tougher, Chinese EVs crowd Australia, Rimac pivots, and Mercedes goes full stroller flex

Some mornings the news cycle feels like a freeway merge at rush hour: utes bearing down on your quarter panel, EVs slipstreaming past, and—wait—was that a Mercedes-branded baby stroller in the fast lane? Yep. Buckle up. Let’s cut through it.

Utes & trucks: 2026 Ford Ranger toughens up and broadens XLT choices

Ford says the 2026 Ford Ranger lineup will add a tougher, “Super Duty-flavored” variant plus fresh XLT flavors. Translation: more capability for people who actually load these things up, and clearer steps between workhorse and weekend-warrior trims.

Having towed with the current Ranger—on both smooth highways and washboard country roads—I’ve always liked how willing the chassis is to do real work. But hit corrugations with a trailer on and you feel that gap between “capable” and “commercial-grade.” If this harder-core Ranger brings beefier cooling, stouter suspenders, and hardware that shrugs off heat and weight, a lot of tradies, caravaners, and surf-boat haulers could stay midsize instead of jumping to a full-size import.

Why the Ford Ranger hardens up now

• Segment pressure: Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton, and Chevy/Isuzu Colorado/D-Max aren’t easing off.
• Use cases are changing: more towing, heavier accessories, longer trips.
• Buyer sweet spot: XLT sits right where fleet meets family—ripe for more tailored options.

2026 Ford Ranger: what I hope changes after a few thousand km

• More payload headroom without punishing ride quality when unladen.
• Heavy-duty cooling for hot-day climbs with a van, not just spec-sheet bragging.
• Clearer tire and wheel packages for work vs. touring—less compromise, more purpose.
• Aussie-market tuning that handles corrugations without rattling the cabin to bits.

Ford Ranger vs the usual suspects (quick look)

Australia’s EV moment: more cars, plusher vans—and a charger reality check

Plenty of EV news for Australia, and it’s a mix of shiny and sobering.

Xpeng goes upmarket with more EVs

Xpeng plans to triple its Australian lineup with pricier, more premium EVs. Smart play. The last time I spent a week with one of their newer cars, I came away impressed by the cabin tech—clean UI, driver assistance that felt respectful rather than bossy, and ride quality that didn’t beg forgiveness on choppy tarmac.

Luxury electric people movers are inbound

Another Chinese EV marque is lining up a luxury people mover for Australia. I’m all for it. An electric MPV with sliding doors, a flat floor, and a lounge-like second row can make school runs easy and coastal weekends relaxed. I did a rainy airport dash in one recently; everyone got in and out without a ballet of elbows and umbrellas. Try that in a coupe-ish SUV.

But fast-charger vandalism is climbing

Here’s the gut punch: vandalism at Australian fast chargers is up. I’ve rolled into a dark site on 3% before, and that sinking feeling is… memorable. This isn’t just annoying—it undermines confidence. Until uptime improves and sites harden up, road-trippers need redundancy: carry multiple network apps, scout slower AC near your stop, and don’t arrive on vape fumes.

• Upside: more EV choice and comfort for families.
• Downside: infrastructure reliability threatened by vandalism.
• Reality: redundancy planning is the new spare tire.

Toyota’s next Century keeps an internal-combustion heart

The forthcoming Toyota Century—Japan’s temple of hush—will continue offering ICE power. In a world where every flagship chases kilowatts, that’s a deliberate move. I’ve ridden in the current car and loved how the doors close like the last page of a hardcover, how the outside world gets dialed down to a murmur. For markets where refueling speed and heritage manners matter, an ICE option still speaks softly and carries a big stick.

Mercedes in stereo: facelifted CLE, and a stroller with serious flex

New face for the CLE

Mercedes is tidying up the CLE’s nose—fresh light signatures, grille tweaks, the usual nip and tuck. The car’s whole trick is blending coupe romance with daily-grind civility. If they also sharpen the infotainment response and de-clutter a menu or two, that commute purgatory gets a bit nicer.

Also: the Mercedes stroller you’ll whisper the price of

Somewhere in Stuttgart, someone said, “Let’s build a pram that turns heads at valet.” Mission accomplished—and priced accordingly. It’s bonkers. It’s very on-brand. If your toddler has a better suspension setup than your first hatchback, please at least make sure there are cupholders.

Porsche dusts off its wild seat fabrics

Porsche is reviving some of its boldest cloth patterns. Think Pepita, Pasha—the sort of textiles that make a 911 grin before the flat-six even lights. I love it. Modern cabins can feel a bit grayscale; these fabrics add personality without adding weight or complexity.

Mate Rimac’s next big bet: robotaxis

From record-chasing hypercars to quietly consistent robo-shuttles—that’s the Rimac plot twist. The plan looks more “own the full stack and the fleet” than “sell lidar lids to everyone.” After a few rides in beta-grade autonomous pods over the years, I’ll say this: the magic is in making autonomy boring. Predictable. If Rimac’s team nails that, they’re onto something real.

The next generation in the driver’s seat

Road & Track highlighted eight under-40s with serious automotive lineage steering the next decade. The best of them speak both combustion and code—lap time one minute, lifecycle analysis the next. That bilingual approach is exactly what this industry needs.

At a glance: what changed and why you should care

Quick hits & buyer notes

• Tow or tour? Keep an eye on the tougher 2026 Ford Ranger—it could be the sweet spot before you leap to a full-size truck.
• Family EV shoppers: upmarket electric people movers may finally deliver third-row comfort without SUV contortions.
• EV road trips in Oz: arrive with a buffer, scout Plan B chargers, and carry a Type 2 cable for AC backups.
• Style hunters: classic Porsche cloth inserts turn every coffee run into mini Cars & Coffee.
• Coupe loyalists: an updated CLE still nails the one-car-for-everything brief if your life swings between weekdays and coastal weekends.

Conclusion: Ford Ranger gets serious while the rest of the car world zigs and zags

From a tougher Ford Ranger to louder Porsche fabrics, the industry’s moving in twelve directions at once—and somehow it all tracks. Australia feels like the EV microcosm right now: broader choice, but with infrastructure growing pains nipping at the heels. Meanwhile, Toyota’s Century proves not every flagship needs a battery badge to feel special. And yes, if your pram costs more than your first hatchback, at least make sure the brakes don’t outshine the family wagon’s.

FAQ

• When will the tougher 2026 Ford Ranger arrive?
  Ford has announced the expansion for the 2026 model year; detailed specs and timing are still TBC.
• Is Australia’s EV charging reliable enough for long trips?
  Improving, but vandalism and outages mean you should travel with a buffer and a backup plan.
• Are luxury electric people movers actually practical?
  Yes. Sliding doors, flat floors, and airy second/third rows make daily life easier than many SUVs.
• Why is Toyota keeping ICE in the Century?
  Refueling speed, tradition, and whisper-quiet refinement still matter to chauffeured buyers.
• What’s the appeal of Porsche’s retro fabrics?
  They add heritage and personality without hurting reliability or adding weight—pure feel-good.