Today’s Drive: Next-Gen BMW 3 Series Goes Electric-Curious, Range Rover Sport EV Priced, and Australia’s Ute Wars Heat Up

Some mornings the news feels like a long straight with clear visibility; today was more like a mountain pass—switchbacks between shiny new EVs, policy potholes, and a few glorious oddballs. I’ve stitched together what matters, with a little seat-of-the-pants perspective from the road and the showroom floor.

2027 BMW 3 Series edges closer to i3 style, with Australian plans taking shape

BMW’s 2027 3 Series has stepped into the light with a look that leans into the brand’s newer EV cues—think “i3-aping” design language—while initial details for Australia have been confirmed. Reading between the grilles, this is BMW making the sport sedan relevant in a world that’s increasingly battery-minded. Two headlines from the Australian beat: the styling syncs with the latest electric i-family, and local plans are already being sketched in, including the closely related i3 sedan.

• New design aligns more closely with BMW’s recent EV aesthetic.
• Australia: early confirmation of local plans for both the 3 Series and i3.
• Expect a sharper tech suite; BMW rarely lets the 3 go stale in the cabin.
• My take: if the steering keeps that crisp, unflustered feel the current car has on a broken B-road, the rest will fall into place.

First Range Rover Sport Electric: revealed and priced for Australia

Land Rover has finally pulled the covers off the first fully electric Range Rover Sport and, crucially for Aussies, put a sticker on it. Exact drivetrain details weren’t the focus of today’s brief, but you don’t position a Range Rover Sport EV without aiming for proper distance between charges and the sort of silent surge that makes freeway on-ramps feel like crisp linen.

• It’s the first time the Sport nameplate goes fully electric.
• Australian pricing is confirmed; specs come next in waves.
• Lifestyle read: an ideal commuter for Sydney’s stop-start, with the weekend legs for coastal getaways.
• Watch-outs: charging curve and towing claims—key Range Rover talking points—still to be detailed.

Australia’s EV pulse: momentum, money, and a ute-shaped reality check

The EV Council dominated the policy chatter: higher interest rates won’t slow EV sales, they argue, and they want five million EVs on Australian roads by 2035. At the same time, they’re calling out a brewing “connected car” controversy as unfairly targeting EVs—worth remembering that data pipelines don’t care whether a car runs on volts or diesel.

Meanwhile, ute land is busy. LDV’s T60 gets a major upgrade alongside eye-catching price cuts, doubling down on the “bang-for-buck” lane. Isuzu, for its part, isn’t ruling out price rises tied to emissions regulations—and the D-Max EV launch for Australia has been pulled, with no hybrid or PHEV options in sight. I’ve had enough chats with tradies to know: capability first, value second, and fuel type a distant third—until the sums change.

Where things stand: quick market table

First-drive whispers: 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class remains the quiet authority

CarExpert had an early steer of the 2027 S-Class. I wasn’t in that driver’s seat today, but having lived with the current S-Class for a week last year, the formula is familiar: a cocoon that skims over corrugations, calibration that makes traffic melt, and a tech stack that’s sumptuous without (usually) shouting. If the update tightens refinement and irons latency out of the infotainment, the S will continue to be the luxury car others benchmark in secret.

• Early drive suggests Mercedes is polishing, not reinventing, the flagship.
• Expect incremental gains in NVH, driver assistance, and cabin UX.
• On rough roads, the current S already isolates like a noise-cancelling headphone. More of that is no bad thing.

Tech you’ll actually use: older Porsches get wireless CarPlay and Android Auto

Porsche is rolling out retrofit hardware that brings wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to “slightly older” models, installed through official channels. I’ve run a wireless setup in a weekend car for the past year—once you ditch the cable, it’s hard to go back. Budget time and coin for a dealer fit, but this is the kind of upgrade that makes a daily difference.

• Factory-style retrofit for older Porsches.
• Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto mean fewer cords, cleaner cabins.
• Expect dealer install and premium pricing, as is tradition.

Oddball corner (and one serious note)

Porsche 944 Shooting Brake, anyone?

There’s a coachbuilt conversion out there turning the classic 944 into a shooting brake. The price of entry? $117,000—and that’s before you supply the donor car. It’s gloriously impractical and irresistibly cool in a Radwood-meets-gunroom sort of way.

Dodge Charger Sixpack sails to the UK—with sticker shock

Dodge’s Charger Sixpack is officially making the hop across the pond, and early chatter points to a wallet-walloping UK price. Muscle car attitude meets European VAT and exchange rates—no surprises there. If you love the idea of a big, brash American sedan in a land of terraced streets, form a queue.

Lawsuit alleges faulty Honda seatbelt in fatal NJ crash

A sobering story: a lawsuit claims a faulty Honda seatbelt contributed to a teenager’s death in New Jersey. Allegations are just that until courts weigh in, but here’s your friendly nudge—check your car for open recalls and TSBs. It takes five minutes and can change everything.

Quick hits

• Connected-car debate heats up: Australia’s EV advocates say don’t single out EVs—data flows across all powertrains.
• Interest rates vs. EV sales: Council says momentum continues despite higher borrowing costs.
• Ute buyers get choice whiplash: LDV cuts prices, Isuzu weighs emissions-driven hikes, and the D-Max EV is off the menu.

Conclusion: The road ahead

From Munich’s design pivot to Solihull’s quiet stormer and Australia’s tug-of-war between policy and practicality, today’s brief felt like a snapshot of a market reshaping itself in real time. The constant? Choice. Whether you’re team cable-free Porsche, electric Range Rover, or value-first ute, there’s a lane with your name on it—just mind the bumps.

FAQ

When will the 2027 BMW 3 Series and i3 reach Australia?

Initial local details are confirmed, indicating Australia is firmly in the plan. Exact timing and specifications typically follow in staged announcements closer to launch.

Is the Range Rover Sport Electric actually priced for Australia now?

Yes. Pricing has been confirmed for Australia, with fuller specification detail expected as deliveries approach.

Is an Isuzu D-Max EV still coming to Australia?

No. The Australian launch has been cancelled, and there’s no hybrid or PHEV alternative confirmed at this stage.

Can I add wireless CarPlay/Android Auto to my older Porsche?

Porsche is offering retrofit hardware through official channels for select older models, adding wireless smartphone integration. Check with a dealer for compatibility and installation costs.

Does the connected-car data issue only affect EVs?

No. While EVs are in the spotlight, connected-car data collection spans many modern vehicles, regardless of powertrain.