Morning Brief: KGM Musso muscles in on HiLux and Ranger, plus V8 whispers and a 3 Series salute

Shake off the holiday haze—there’s proper news brewing. The KGM Musso is squaring up to Australia’s HiLux/Ranger duopoly with a new, blockier look and big intent. Ford’s cooking a Ranger-sized electric ute it wants to prove on U.S. soil first. There’s a Corvette rumor with serious cubic inches, Honda is politely batting away Prelude Type R hype, someone lifted a GT‑R for off‑road giggles (and pain), and BMW’s 3 Series gets a well-earned victory lap. Coffee in hand? Let’s go.

KGM Musso: the boxy comeback aimed straight at HiLux and Ranger

The ute you remember as SsangYong rolls into 2026 with a sharper jawline and a clearer mission: gate-crash the HiLux and Ranger party. The KGM Musso has ditched soft curves for squared shoulders—think tradie toolbox that’s been hitting the gym—and it’s due in Australia with pricing and specs to follow. Ambitious? Absolutely. Impossible? Not from what I’ve experienced with the last one.

I ran a previous-gen Musso across a rutted farm track a while back—fence posts in the tray, dog trying to claim the front seat—and it was quietly impressive. Ride quality didn’t fall apart on corrugations, and the cabin ergonomics were better than the spec sheet suggested. If KGM’s stiffened the chassis and tuned the rear to stay settled with weight onboard, they’ll tempt fleet buyers and value hunters alike. And if the price stays cheeky (as Musso often does), game on.

• Design: Squared-off fascia, chunkier arches, tougher stance.
• Target: The HiLux/Ranger faithful who want capability without the brand-tax.
• Timing: Australian launch confirmed; full specs and pricing closer to on-sale.

KGM Musso inside the cabin: work boots off, gloves on

Don’t expect Rolls-Royce plush, but I’ve always liked the Musso’s honest cabin. Big knobs you can use with cold fingers, clear instrumentation, and seats that don’t pinch across long stints. I’d love to see wireless CarPlay/Android Auto and a faster infotainment processor—previous menus could lag on startup. And a slightly longer seat base would earn it fans among taller drivers. Small stuff, sure, but those are the things you notice at 6 a.m. with a coffee wedged in the cupholder.

KGM Musso vs HiLux and Ranger: quick back-of-the-napkin

As always: check market-by-market specs. Axle ratios and payload change the real-world picture.

KGM Musso wish list (from someone who actually loads trays)

• Factory-integrated tie-down rails you don’t bark your shins on.
• Rear suspension tune that stays level with 300–400 kg in the tray.
• All-terrain tyre option from the showroom, not just dealer fitment.
• 12V/240V bed power and a work-light you can aim at a campsite.

Ford’s Ranger-sized EV ute: earn it in America, share it with the world

Ford’s next trick is a midsize electric ute roughly Ranger-sized. The catch? It needs to pass the American stress test first: long tows, long distances, and owners who pack like they’re moving house. Sensible strategy. If it works there, Australia and Europe become very achievable.

When I towed a medium boat with an EV truck last year, the range graph took a dive—no shock, just physics. The answer is brutally honest tow ratings, real-world range estimates, and charging that works every single time. Oh, and proper accessories: integrated bed power, clever dividers, maybe even an onboard air compressor. If it feels like compromise, it will be. If it feels like a power tool with number plates, it’ll sell.

Performance corner: big-cube whispers, Honda pragmatism, and a sandy GT‑R

Corvette Grand Sport rumor: a 6.7‑litre LS6, you say?

Word is the Grand Sport might land with a 6.7‑litre LS6-coded V8. If that pans out, it’s a glorious throwback in character: fat torque, simple throttle joy, and fewer top-end theatrics than the apex predators. In the mid-engined C8 world, I’d expect an everyday supercar mood—wide rubber, rigid body control, and a soundtrack that makes you invent errands to the shops. Manual? Probably a dream. Charm? Buckets of it.

Prelude Type R: Honda raises an eyebrow, not a flag

The rumor mill spun hard enough that Honda had to chime in. Translation: cool your jets. The new Prelude looks set to be a tidy, efficient coupe with proper steering feel—classic Honda stuff—but a full-fat Type R seems unlikely near-term. I drove a recent Civic with Honda’s current chassis tuning, and the light-on-its-feet vibe is back. Give the Prelude a touch more power and it’ll be one of those cars you don’t mind taking the long way home in—badge or not.

Off-road GT‑R: hilarious idea, awkward reality

Some brave soul lifted a GT‑R, slapped on knobbies, and pointed it at the dirt. Internet gold, workshop headache. Driveline angles, wheel travel, electronics that throw tantrums when they can’t find tarmac—it adds up. Fun to look at, sure. For an actual trail day? I’ll take a Patrol with lockers and let Godzilla terrify apexes, not termite mounds.

50 years on, why the BMW 3 Series still runs the table

The 3 Series turns 50 and still feels like the default answer to “What’s a proper driver’s sedan?” I hopped into a 330i recently and noticed it right away: seating spot-on, forward visibility that calms the brain, and steering weight that never nags. The four-cylinder’s punch is exactly what you want for weekday sprints; the M340i’s straight-six remains one of motoring’s great feel-good engines. Appliance on Monday, driver’s car on Sunday. That duality is why rivals keep taking notes.

Policy watch: Australia’s NVES “name and shame” begins 2026

Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard grows teeth in 2026—miss your fleet targets and your brand’s name goes up in lights. Expect more mild-hybrids, slipperier aero, lower-rolling-resistance tyres on base trims, and quicker rollouts of low-emission variants. Shoppers will see more efficient choices up front, and some thirsty niche models might have to justify their keep.

What stood out today

• KGM Musso gets squared and serious—Aussie launch locked in.
• Ford’s midsize EV ute must ace America before it tours globally.
• Corvette Grand Sport could go old‑school cubic inches, modern manners.
• Honda cools Prelude Type R talk—sporty, yes; full R, not yet.
• Off‑road GT‑R is memes first, engineering second.
• BMW 3 Series at 50: still the tidy benchmark you recommend without thinking.
• NVES naming-and-shaming will nudge lineups leaner and cleaner.

Conclusion: the KGM Musso moment, and a busy 2026

Boxy utes, big‑cube rumors, and cleaner fleets—the next year’s shaping up nicely. The KGM Musso feels like the underdog worth a test drive if you live between job sites and long weekends. Ford’s EV ute could be a star if it tows honestly. Performance fans might get one last nostalgic V8 treat, while Honda keeps things sensible. As always, the trick is picking what fits your life—alpine runs, school chaos, or that stubborn paddock gate the Musso will probably shoulder without complaint.

FAQ