Today in Cars: Kodiaq PHEV locks in for Australia, Scorpio gets safer, hydrogen taxis roll, and a semi hangs over a bridge

I spent the morning bouncing between press calls and owners’ group chats, and it turns out today’s news is a neat microcosm of where the car world is right now: plug-in family SUVs turning mainstream, rugged 4x4s finally modernising their safety, hydrogen finding very practical work, and—because real roads are wild—a semi dangling over a bridge before a jaw-clenching rescue. Let’s get into it.

Skoda’s 2026 Kodiaq PHEV priced for Australia

Skoda has confirmed pricing for the plug-in Kodiaq headed to Australia in 2026, officially moving the brand’s biggest family SUV into the “charge at home, cruise in silence” era. I’ve always liked the Kodiaq’s grown‑up ride and easygoing steering on long Hume runs; the added electric shove should make the school run calmer and the Saturday Bunnings dash cheaper.

Skoda’s global plug-in hardware in this generation focuses on real-world electric commuting with a petrol engine for the big trips. Australia gets that formula baked in from day one.

Highlights I’m expecting based on the new-gen Kodiaq formula

• Plug-in hybrid drivetrain tuned for everyday EV running with petrol backup for range confidence
• Family-friendly space and the usual “Simply Clever” touches (cubby holes where you need them)
• Modern driver assist suite including adaptive cruise and lane support
• Fast home charging capability; DC top-ups likely supported for quick coffee-stop boosts
• Refined ride calibration—current Kodiaq is impressively quiet on coarse-chip; the PHEV should be quieter still around town

Why it matters? Australia’s love affair with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV showed there’s a mainstream appetite for this tech if it’s easy to live with. Skoda’s play piles on European polish and a calmer cabin. I’ll be lining up for a tow test and a rough-road loop once local cars arrive to see how the extra battery weight plays with the suspension.

Mahindra Scorpio 2026: the toughie gets serious about safety

Mahindra’s body-on-frame Scorpio has always been a charming bruiser—robust on corrugations, super chill at 80 km/h on gravel, and with a chunk of low-end pull that makes boat ramps and muddy paddocks a non-event. The trade-off? Until now, its active safety offering lagged the market.

The 2026 update brings a “major safety upgrade,” which in plain English means the stuff buyers keep asking me about: more airbags and proper active assistance like forward-collision mitigation and lane support. That’s the right move. When I hauled a small trailer through the hinterland in last year’s car, I didn’t once doubt the chassis, but I did wish for more driver aids to take the edge off city commuting.

What off-roaders and families will appreciate

• Stronger active safety tech for urban peace of mind
• Retained ladder-frame toughness and high-clearance stance for weekend tracks
• Simple, durable cabin that laughs at muddy boots

If Mahindra couples these safety gains with the same no-nonsense running costs, the Scorpio stays one of the better-value ways to get a true 4x4 without a ute tray.

Road rules and realities: policy tidbits that affect your drive

Australian state plans a drug-driving crackdown

One Australian state is moving to expand roadside testing and stiffen penalties for drug-driving. Translation: expect more checkpoints on commuter corridors and near nightlife zones. If you’re a shift worker—nurses keep telling me about 4 a.m. runs—build a few extra minutes into the schedule for the season ahead.

Zipcar exits the UK: a warning for car-sharing policy

Zipcar pulling the pin in the UK is bigger than one brand. It’s a nudge to policymakers that car-sharing only thrives when the trifecta lines up: guaranteed parking, predictable city fees, and service reliability. In London I’ve had brilliant one-way Zipcar zips to meetings—and I’ve also circled boroughs hunting for a legal bay. If the red tape outweighs the convenience, people quietly slide back to private cars or ride-hailing.

EVs, hydrogen, and the fast-changing leaderboard

Did Kia just tease an electric Stinger successor?

Kia dropped a shadowy teaser that looks every inch a low-slung, long-wheelbase EV—exactly the silhouette Stinger fans hoped for. If the production car keeps rear-drive proportions, with dual-motor variants for the big number, it could be the spiritual follow-up we wanted. The Stinger’s charm wasn’t just speed; it was that relaxed grand-touring gait. An EV with long legs and decent thermal management could be better again on a Sydney–Canberra run. Watch this space.

Zeekr outsells Volvo, buoyed by a Model Y rival

In a plot twist only the modern Geely family tree can deliver, Zeekr has reportedly outsold sister brand Volvo after tripling sales, carried by a compact electric SUV positioned squarely at Tesla Model Y shoppers. I’ve driven a few Zeekr prototypes over the years; they ride quietly and feel well-finished. If they keep that up while scaling, expect to see more of them parked at suburban chargers next to the usual Teslas and BYDs.

Toyota Crown hydrogen sedan gets taxi and police uniforms in Japan

Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Crown sedan is taking on very Japanese jobs: cab duty and police work. It’s a smart demonstration of hydrogen’s strengths—quick refuelling and consistent uptime. I rode in a hydrogen taxi in Tokyo a while back; it felt like a quiet, slightly sci-fi Camry, which is exactly what you want in a city cab. If the refuelling network is in place, operators love the no-fuss cadence.

Passion project: an Italian restomod reimagines the Honda NSX

Somewhere in Italy, a design house has given the original NSX a tasteful makeover—think lighter materials, sympathetic aero, and the sort of interior retrim that respectfully modernises without erasing the car’s character. The first-gen NSX still has one of the sweetest steering racks I’ve felt; if this restomod preserves that telepathy and just adds better braking and cooling, I’m all in. Also: thank you for not over-lowering it. NSXs deserve to breathe on a good B-road.

Roadways and oddities: the human side of transport

• A semi driver spent hours dangling over a bridge before a daring rescue. The photos will age your heart five years; the save was heroic.
• An angry airport parker allegedly called in a fake bomb threat over a fee dispute. Pro tip: that’s not how you validate your ticket.
• A wild Kaiser‑Jeep build surfaced, the sort of beautifully impractical toy that makes you re-check garage dimensions and your relationship status.

Powertrains in today’s headlines: which fits your life?

Editor’s take

Two things crystallise from today’s batch. First, electrification is no longer niche—when a big, sensible family SUV like Kodiaq goes plug‑in in Australia, that’s mainstream. Second, tech only works if it serves the job: hydrogen makes brilliant sense for taxis, and a tough 4x4 is better when it can also keep the family safer in town. As for the dangling semi—hug a highway patrol officer when you next see one.

Quick FAQs

• When will the 2026 Skoda Kodiaq PHEV arrive in Australia?
  Skoda has priced the model for Australia with local launch timing set for 2026. Expect dealer demos closer to that date.
• What safety upgrades are coming to the 2026 Mahindra Scorpio?
  Mahindra is adding a major safety package including additional airbags and modern active driver assists, addressing previous buyer feedback.
• Is Kia really replacing the Stinger with an EV?
  Kia has teased a sleek electric flagship with Stinger-like proportions. While not officially called a Stinger successor, that’s the clear vibe.
• How do hydrogen taxis work day to day?
  Fuel-cell sedans like the Crown refuel in minutes at hydrogen stations and provide smooth, quiet service—ideal for high-mileage fleet duty where infrastructure exists.
• Who is Zeekr and why are they outselling Volvo?
  Zeekr is a Geely brand focused on premium EVs. A strong push with a compact SUV rival to the Model Y has surged volumes, enough to edge past Volvo in recent sales tallies.

That’s the brief. If you’re cross-shopping a plug-in and a diesel 4x4 right now, you’re not alone—I’ve had three emails this week from readers juggling exactly that. Different tools, different jobs. Pick the one that fits your life, not the loudest headline.