GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV update spied in Australia: real-world notes, recalls, F1 jitters, and one soggy Corvette

I like a news day that starts with a camo’d prototype and ends with touge talk. In between, we’ve got a recall you shouldn’t sleep on, some hydrogen soul-searching, a ute that might finally stop hopping over corrugations, and yes—someone parked a C8 Corvette in a pond. Coffee topped up? Good. Let’s go.

Electrified, alternative, and a little bit experimental

GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV update spied in Australia

I’ve spent time in a few H6s over the past couple of years and the theme is consistent: calm in the city, respectable kit-per-dollar, and a drivetrain that’s happiest when you keep the revs as background noise. So spotting the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV doing quiet laps on Aussie plates ahead of an expected 2026 on-sale date makes sense. The GT’s coupe-ish roofline with a plug-in heart could be the sweet spot—more silent miles, less engine flare, and a touch of extra shove for freeway merges.

The prototype’s camouflage looks like the usual mid-cycle nip-and-tuck: a cleaner nose, tidier tail, maybe a hint more aero work around the rear quarters. The bit I’ll be watching? Suspension tuning. The last H6 I had bounced a little when rushed over broken backroads. If they sharpen the GT’s damping without going crashy, it’ll land right where buyers want it—quiet around town, composed when loaded up for the weekend.

• What it means: more plug-in SUV choice for buyers chasing lower running costs without full BEV anxiety.
• What I’ll watch: EV-only range, charge speed (AC first, then DC if they’re brave), and GT-specific ride/steering tune.

How the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV could slot into Australia’s SUV scene

There’s no local spec sheet yet, so think of this as a buyer’s checklist rather than gospel. If GWM stays true to its value-first playbook, the H6 GT PHEV will elbow into a space currently worked over by MG’s HS PHEV and the Eclipse Cross/Outlander PHEV twins.

Honda CR‑V e:FCEV is living on borrowed time

Hydrogen is a lovely lab story—light refuels, silent cruising, no tailpipe emissions—but the forecourt reality is hard. I’ve run fuel-cell SUVs in California and the serenity is addictive. The stress? Not so much. If reports are right and Honda’s fuel-cell CR‑V is nearing its curtain call, it’s a shame but not a shock. Until the stations exist, PHEVs and BEVs will carry the everyday load.

Cupra Born recalled for fire risk

Not the headline you want, but recalls are the safety net doing its job. If you own a Born, don’t doomscroll—just act.

• Run your VIN with your dealer to confirm inclusion.
• Follow any charging/parking guidance until the fix is done.
• Book the remedy as soon as slots open—earlier is better.

Quick compare: three paths to “green” this week

Small cars, daily drivers, and pragmatic tweaks

Toyota Aygo X: tiny footprint, tall attitude

I ran an Aygo X for a week in Lisbon’s tight streets last year and remembered how blissful true visibility feels. You sit high-ish, the pillars are honest, and the turning circle is comedy small. The ride can tap its toes over sharp edges at city speeds, but the chubby tyres help. Want fireworks? Not here. Want honest, frugal, and parking that feels like cheating? Absolutely.

• Strengths: sightlines, easy parking, simple controls, low running costs.
• Quirks: infotainment wakes slowly on cold mornings; boot is upright and modest.
• Ideal for: dense cities, new drivers, and anyone done with SUV bloat.

Next DS No4 promises a “completely different” family hatch

Translation from DS-ese: dramatic design, lush materials, and tech that tries to weekend in Paris. If they pair that with a silken EV option and the cushy ride DS does best, it could be a genuinely different take. The risk? Weight creep and real-world efficiency often lose the plot card in premium-leaning hatches. Fingers crossed the engineers win that debate.

Mitsubishi Triton gets ride and handling tweaks

I’ve logged plenty of outback miles in the current Triton and, unladen, the rear can skip across corrugations like a stone over a dam. Mitsubishi says fresh damper and bushing tunes are coming. If they resist the urge to “sportify” and instead focus on control and compliance, tradies’ backs will thank them after a 600 km haul.

Speed, theatre, and one very digital mountain pass

Toyota’s mid-engine MR2 revival is still years away

The Tokyo Auto Salon tease was tasty, but patience, people. The MR2 needs to land with proper balance and that delicate rotation you feel with your fingertips. I can still recall clipping a late apex in the old one—front bites, rear whispers, time slows. If Toyota takes the time, the payoff will be worth it.

Porsche’s most extreme 911 prototype lets its wing do the yelling

The spy shots show a wing that could shade a picnic and a front deck full of vents. Translation: aero loads, brake temps, and lap times matter more than latte-friendly approach angles. Porsche rarely builds these cars for school runs—expect targeted madness and a tyre bill to match.

Larte’s Lamborghini Urus SE bodykit: not here to save the planet

Carbon on carbon with a side of drama. The hybrid Urus SE already whispers loudly; Larte’s kit turns up the volume until the valet looks nervous. Personally? I’d rather a dawn blast down a quiet coast road. But if your driveway is a catwalk, this is couture.

Forza Horizon 6 heads to Japan with 550 cars and touge battles

Japan map. 550 cars. Touge runs that trigger muscle memory from late-night drives. If Playground nails the handling balance—approachable fun with a bit more nuance at the limit—there goes another weekend.

• Headline features: 550-car roster, Japan setting, proper mountain pass duels.
• Why it matters: a love letter to car culture—JDM icons, neon, and flow.

Motorsport: eyes on 2026

The challenges facing Alpine and Ferrari ahead of F1 2026

New power units, active aero, and a fresh efficiency obsession. The winning teams will be the ones that make software, packaging, and tyre life sing in harmony.

• Energy management: MGU‑K harvest/deploy maps that align with race craft.
• Packaging: cooling hybrids without inflating drag or weight.
• Chassis concept: a platform that tolerates development swings across the season.
• Operations: pit wall agility—cautions and lift‑and‑coast windows will swing results.

Ferrari needs execution under pressure; Alpine needs a development ladder they can climb fast. Testing can’t come soon enough.

Road safety and the oddball file

Australia Day long weekend: double demerits in force

Heading coastside or up into the ranges? Keep it tidy. Several states run double demerits over the holiday. Set the cruise a whisker under, swap drivers often, and let the impatient ones collect the fines for you.

Someone parked a C8 Corvette in a Florida pond

That’s one way to cool intake temps. Jokes aside, heavy rain, slick verges, and standing water turn even hero-mode supercars into passengers. Hydroplaning is democratically terrifying; I’ve felt a family hatch go light at 80 km/h in unexpected runoff. Respect the sheen.

The bottom line

From the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV quietly doing its local shakedown to hydrogen reality checks, recalls done right, pint-sized city charmers, and a giant-wing 911 that looks allergic to speed bumps—this week hits every corner of the car map. Game night moves to Japan soon, F1’s 2026 jitters are getting louder, and somewhere a Corvette is drying out. Drive safe, stay curious, and keep an eye on that GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV—it could be the pragmatic plug-in wildcard of 2026.

FAQ

• When will the updated GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV arrive in Australia?
  It’s been spied testing locally ahead of an expected 2026 launch window. Official timing and specs are still under wraps.
• What sort of range could the GWM Haval H6 GT PHEV offer?
  If it follows the H6 PHEV sold elsewhere, expect meaningful commute-length EV miles. Final Australian figures will depend on battery size and certification cycle.
• Is my Cupra Born affected by the fire‑risk recall?
  Check your VIN with a Cupra dealer. If included, follow any charging/parking guidance and book the fix as soon as parts are available.
• Is the Honda CR‑V e:FCEV being discontinued?
  Reports suggest its future is limited. Consider long‑term fueling access before you commit—hydrogen availability remains niche.
• When is Toyota’s new MR2 coming?
  Not soon. After recent teases, it’s still years away. Hard to wait, but the good ones usually are.