1. 2027 Honda Accord facelift: $1,000 more, nothing new
Honda has given its Camry rival a blink-and-you'll-miss-it facelift for 2027 — and it's now $65,900 drive-away, a $1,000 increase. For the extra coin you get body-coloured lower trim instead of gloss black, red stitching on the gear knob, and that's about it. Still no heated front seats — a feature you can find in a $26,990 Chery Tiggo 4. The 2.0-litre hybrid carries on with 135kW/335Nm and 4.3L/100km, while free Honda Connect telematics drops from five years to three. With just 59 Accords sold this year against 84 Honda dealerships, the Accord remains a ghost in Australian showrooms — now a dearer ghost.
Source: Drive.com.au
2. BYD's $250,000 Yangwang U8 monster cleared for Australia
BYD's flagship Yangwang U8 has been approved for sale in Australia, and it could land with an estimated price of around $250,000, making it the priciest Chinese car ever sold here. It'd also be the most powerful SUV in local showrooms: 880kW from four electric motors, with 0–100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. It weighs 3,644 kg — the heaviest new vehicle on sale — yet can float in water in an emergency, spin 360 degrees on the spot, and its hydraulic suspension stays stable if a tyre blows out. BYD hasn't formally confirmed the launch, but carmakers rarely pay to certify a vehicle they never intend to sell.
Source: Drive.com.au
3. Nio's Firefly gets a bigger 60kWh battery — and existing owners can upgrade
Nio's budget brand Firefly is going bigger on batteries: a 60kWh CATL pack launches in China on October 23, stretching CLTC range from 420 km to 560 km. The 122kW rear-mounted motor stays put, and Nio has confirmed that existing owners will be eligible to upgrade to the new battery once orders open. Pricing for the bigger pack is still under wraps. The car currently starts at 119,800 yuan (around US$17,900) outright or 79,800 yuan with battery-as-a-service. Firefly just ticked over its 90,000th delivery since April 2025 — serious volume for a compact EV most Australians have never heard of.
Source: CarNewsChina
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