Today in Cars: Hardcore utes, the Honda Integra Coupe returns with a manual, a radical Range Rover EV, and Australia’s tax tremor

I nuked a double espresso, scrolled the overnight feeds, and ended up with mud on my mind and a grin I couldn’t shake—because the Honda Integra Coupe is coming back with three pedals. Also on the docket: a tougher GWM ute, a Range Rover Evoque set to go fully electric by 2027, some Volvo safety soul-searching, and a policy wobble in Australia that could make nice things a touch less expensive. Oh, and Captain Slow might be separating from his beloved 911. Shall we?

Australia watch: Value plays and policy moves

GWM Cannon toughens up, and it might head Down Under

CarExpert reckons a hardcore off-road makeover is coming for the 2026 GWM Cannon, and yes, Australia’s in the conversation. If it follows the usual “hero dual-cab” recipe, expect proper all-terrains, more travel, underbody armour, and visual swagger—snorkel, bash plates, the whole showroom-sizzle kit. When I took a current Cannon down a chewed-up fire trail last year, the chassis felt game but ran out of clearance and damping finesse. A factory-tuned pack could be the difference between “err, maybe not” and “go on then.”

• What it means: A cheaper foil to Ranger Raptor and HiLux GR Sport—and that matters in driveway math.
• Timing: 2026 global window; Australian prospects flagged, not nailed down.
• Watch for: Real suspension tuning versus a cosmetic “apocalypse kit.”

PHEV price skirmish: Jaecoo J7 SHS cuts costs

The plug-in hybrid pile-on is real. CarExpert reports the Jaecoo J7 SHS is getting cheaper as BYD and Geely sharpen their pencils. A couple of owners pinged me after test drives—they love the instant torque in town but want clearer servicing costs and better dealer backup. If Jaecoo trims the sticker properly, it needles BYD’s value story and nudges legacy brands to play ball.

• Why it matters: PHEVs can slash urban fuel bills without the public-charging faff of a full EV.
• Shopping tip: Focus on real-world EV-only range and warranty, not just headline “system power.”
• Wildcard: Fleet buyers love low CO2—watch the corporate orders follow the discounts.

Luxury Car Tax: Back on the chopping block (again)

Australia’s Federal Government, per CarExpert, is having another go at scrapping the Luxury Car Tax. If you’ve ever specced a family SUV with the “nice bits” and watched the price leap like a kangaroo, you know the sting. LCT hits cars above roughly the $80k–$90k thresholds (efficiency dependent) and often punishes safety and clean tech as much as actual excess—never a great look.

• Who wins: Buyers of premium EVs and hybrids; some high-spec mainstream SUVs too.
• Who frets: States (stamp duty), and dealers juggling mid-shipment pricing.
• What to watch: Transition timing and how brands treat pre-orders already on the boat.

Enthusiast corner: Honda Integra Coupe and GT dreams

Honda Integra Coupe is back—with a manual and CR-X vibes

CarExpert finally gave me the headline I’ve wanted to type for years: the Honda Integra Coupe returns, with a manual, wearing a CR-X-style roofline. That silhouette is pure Honda nostalgia—the sort that makes you loop the block just to hear the engine clear 5,000 rpm. Specs aren’t locked yet, but if Honda keeps the steering unfiltered and the shifter with that old-school snick-snick honesty, it’ll be the antidote to the SUV monoculture. I noticed right away with recent Hondas: get the seat low, the wheel close, and everything just… clicks. Here’s hoping the Integra Coupe keeps that vibe.

• Best use case: Sunday B-roads, weekday stress dump. Light enough not to bully your tyres.
• My plea to Honda: Keep the seats low, sightlines clean, and lane-keep chilled. No overcooked nannies.
• Likely rivals: Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5—maybe hot hatches on price creep.

Honda Integra Coupe vs rivals: what they are (and aren’t)

Genesis teases GT3 intentions, plus GT road cars

Genesis is hinting at a GT3 program alongside GT road cars, says CarExpert. It’s the grown-up way to earn stripes: go racing, then let customers taste that DNA on a Sunday coffee run. If they channel the brand’s design swagger into something lighter with real brake feel and steering that wakes up without Sport+ theatrics, they’ll steal glances from the Germans—both at valet stands and at turn-in.

EV future: A radical Range Rover Evoque in 2027

Autocar reports the Range Rover Evoque will reinvent itself as a radical EV in 2027. Big move for a nameplate built on style and city chic. The smart play? Keep the stance and catwalk proportions, then use EV packaging to carve out back-seat space and a proper flat floor. Living with compact luxury SUVs, my deal-breakers are usually the back bench and boot shape. If the electric Evoque nails both while delivering hushed, gliding city manners, it’ll hit.

• What to expect: Clean-sheet EV rather than a compromised conversion.
• Why it matters: Keeps Evoque relevant within JLR’s electrification push.
• Cross-shop watch: Volvo EX30/EX40, BMW iX1/iX2, Mercedes EQA successors.

Safety shift: Volvo drops a touted crash-reduction tech

Volvo, via CarExpert, is removing a safety feature it once said could cut serious crashes by up to 20 percent. That’s not a small pivot. I generally love Volvo’s belt-and-braces approach—calm interfaces, earnest driver aids—but in grim weather some systems can go a bit hall-monitor. The real questions: what replaces it, how current owners are supported, and whether the overall suite keeps Volvo at the top of the safety class.

Culture and curios: James May’s 911 and spicy VWs

Captain Slow is letting go of his “precious” 911

Carscoops reports James May is selling his Porsche 911. Yes, there’ll be a celebrity premium. But you’re also buying a line in a motoring TV saga. If you bite, pay for a proper inspection and budget for the “since we’re in there” bits. A well-kept 911 rewards you every time you pull the door—there’s a thunk—and the wheel wriggles with that old Porsche honesty.

Japanese tuner turns VWs into “Bugs that bite back”

Also via Carscoops: a Japanese tuner giving Volkswagens a sting—stance, aero, and the sort of widebody that makes car-park speed bumps feel like the Nürburgring’s Flugplatz. I’m here for it. Just brace the chassis and get the alignment right; the fastest mod is always the one that keeps your contact patches, well, in contact.

Quick-glance roundup

Buying notes and real-world tips

• Honda Integra Coupe: If the clutch take-up sits high and springy, a few days of heel-and-toe practice will smooth your shifts and calm traffic-light launches.
• PHEVs: Test EV-only range on your commute, not a five-minute dealer loop. Climate control eats miles—factor that in winter.
• Off-road utes: Fancy lifts help, but proper recovery points and a tyre deflator/compressor pair matter more when it goes sideways.
• Incoming EVs: Don’t just check litres—measure the boot opening. Strollers and golf bags care about shape, not numbers.

Conclusion

From a tougher GWM ute to the Honda Integra Coupe returning with a manual (cue happy noises), today’s mix hits the heart and the head. The Evoque’s EV future is the big-picture play, the LCT chatter could influence your next invoice, and Volvo’s safety reshuffle is one to watch. Somewhere in the middle, a 911 with TV provenance is changing hands and a Beetle is sprouting fangs. Car life remains gloriously varied—exactly how we like it.

FAQ

• When could the hardcore GWM Cannon arrive in Australia?
  CarExpert indicates a 2026 global window with Australian prospects flagged; exact timing and specs are still TBC.
• Is the new Honda Integra Coupe definitely getting a manual?
  Yes—CarExpert reports a manual transmission and a CR-X-style roofline are part of the plan. Full specs and markets are pending.
• What happens if Australia scraps the Luxury Car Tax?
  Premium cars—especially efficient hybrids and EVs—could see lower drive-away prices. Watch the transition timing and how brands treat existing orders.
• When will the Range Rover Evoque EV launch?
  Autocar reports a radical EV Evoque is targeted for 2027. Expect details to firm up over the next 12–18 months.
• Which Volvo safety feature is being dropped?
  CarExpert notes Volvo is removing a feature previously touted to reduce serious crashes by up to 20 percent. Replacement strategy hasn’t been fully detailed at time of writing.