Today’s Road Noise: BYD’s pint-size EV lands, Porsche sharpens the Macan, Isuzu plots an electric pivot, and a Jaguar concept with zero rear window

I woke up to a triple-shot of coffee and an inbox full of cars trying to be everything to everyone: tiny and urban, big and off-road, pricey and premium, and one that simply refuses to have a rear window. Here’s the quick tour of what matters today—told from the driver’s seat, not the boardroom.

EVs and electrification: city slickers to Autobahn bashers

2026 BYD Atto 1: the ultra-compact EV with big-city energy

CarExpert has the full specs on BYD’s new Atto 1, a pint-sized EV that sounds tailor-made for tight lanes, tight budgets, and even tighter parking spaces. Think of it as the friendly urban answer to the sprawling crossover boom. When I first drove the Atto 3 in dense traffic, its nimble footprint and smooth low-speed response made it feel like a scooter with doors; the Atto 1 promises that vibe turned up another notch.

• Urban-first packaging: expect short overhangs, easy visibility, and a cabin that majors on clever storage.
• BYD’s battery know-how should pay off in efficiency and charge speeds that suit apartment living and public DC top-ups.
• Use case: inner-city commuting, school runs, weekend errands—less “Cape York”, more “café crawl”.

2026 Porsche Macan GTS EV: the spicy middle child arrives in Australia

Porsche’s electric Macan gets the GTS badge for 2026, and CarExpert says it’s been revealed and priced for Australia. If the brand follows its usual playbook, GTS means the sweet spot: tauter chassis, feistier power delivery, and real-world speed without the flagship guilt. I’ve hustled the current electric Macan on slick roads; the way it digs in under power is deeply Porsche—rear-biased, communicative, and confident.

• Expect a sportier tune versus the regular electric Macan, with fast-road manners that flatter good drivers.
• Australia pricing is out, which usually means allocations will move quickly—Porsche buyers don’t like waiting.
• Use case: school drop-off Monday, backroad therapy Sunday.

Isuzu’s electric pickup push: tax tides and tough choices

Autocar reports Isuzu is leaning into electric pickups as tax changes bite diesel double-cabs. That’s the market reality: when the spreadsheets say “electrify or pay up,” engineers get busy. The pickup crowd still needs range with payload and towing, so expect pragmatic solutions like worksite charging strategies, realistic battery sizes, and possibly range-extender thinking in the medium term.

• Policy moves markets: business buyers chase total cost of ownership, not just sticker price.
• Electric pickups will live or die on charging uptime and torque management under load.
• Use case: fleet and tradie duty cycles with predictable routes and depot charging.

Jaguar’s future GT concept: no rear window, no apologies

Carscoops spotlighted Jaguar’s future-leaning GT with a tiny trunk opening and, crucially, no rear glass. I’m all for drama, but daily life loves a hatch. Camera mirrors and digital rear views can work brilliantly—I’ve used them in grim London rain and bright Aussie sun—but luggage apertures that pinch your suitcase? Less brilliant. Still, if it looks right, people forgive a lot. See also: E-Type.

• Design-first statement: pure silhouette over practicality.
• Tech will need to replace the missing glass with crisp, lag-free vision.
• Use case: grand touring for two humans and two soft bags. Maybe three if they’re patient.

SUVs you’ll actually live with

2026 Mazda CX-60: the tidy handler with grown-up manners

CarExpert has a fresh review of the 2026 CX-60. Mazda’s middleweight SUV has always aimed higher than its badge suggests—tight body control, a steering feel that doesn’t go numb the moment you touch the throttle, and an interior that prefers calm to chaos. In prior drives, I appreciated how composed it stayed on patchy country lanes; it’s the sort of chassis that settles a long day on the Hume.

• Cabin vibes: minimalist, tactility-first, with materials that feel properly considered.
• Ride and handling: typically Mazda—supple at speed, honest at the limit.
• Use case: family highway hauler that still enjoys a winding detour.

2026 Isuzu MU-X Tour Mate: the tourer returns

The MU-X Tour Mate is back in the lineup, says CarExpert, aimed squarely at the camping-and-crew crowd. When I’ve taken the MU-X off the bitumen, its easy-going torque and sturdy ladder-frame roots made life simple—point at the skyline and it just climbs. The Tour Mate badge usually means factory-fitted touring niceties and the kind of durability that shrugs off corrugations.

• Think practicality: family-friendly seating, tough surfaces, and accessories that save aftermarket faffing.
• Pair it with light all-terrains and a sensible tow setup and you’ve got a stress-free long-weekend rig.
• Use case: coastal caravan parks, red-dirt trails, kid’s bikes in the back.

Buying and ownership: deals, not dreams

“BMW ownership has never been more attainable”

CarExpert’s note on BMW accessibility signals sharper finance, leasing, and possibly buoyant certified pre-owned pipelines. I’ve seen this movie: manufacturers massage repayments and guaranteed future values to keep metal moving, and suddenly the driveway shortlist changes. If you’re shopping, compare total cost of ownership rather than monthly temptation, and factor in servicing packs and insurance—those can swing the maths.

• Look for bundled service plans and transparent GFVs.
• Test multiple trims: the right options can make or break residuals.
• Use case: commuters wanting premium refinement without premium panic.

Enthusiast culture: art you can park

Hand-crafted classics: Toyota and Aston replicas built from scratch

Carscoops highlighted astonishing scratch-built replicas of Toyota and Aston icons—100% handmade, panel by painstaking panel. I’ve stood next to one-off alloy bodies being wheeled into shape; the sound alone is a time machine. You don’t buy these to save money. You buy one to steward an idea—the romance of driving made tangible in metal.

• Coachbuilt craft: hours of shaping, fitting, refitting—then starting over.
• Expect bespoke ergonomics, unique patina, and stories you’ll tell for years.
• Use case: Sunday mornings, empty roads, café chatter on arrival.

Quick compare: today’s EV headlines

One last thing

Autocar’s podcast this week dives into hosting your own car show, which is exactly the sort of mischief I endorse. Tip from experience: food trucks keep people longer than exhaust noise does.

Conclusion

From BYD’s pint-sized play to Porsche’s GTS spice, the EV story keeps bifurcating—pragmatic at one end, indulgent at the other—while Isuzu quietly moves the workhorse into the battery era. Meanwhile, Mazda and Isuzu remind us that good SUVs still win on the long road, and a couple of hand-formed classics prove there’s always room for art in our garages.

FAQ

• When will the BYD Atto 1 go on sale?
  It’s slated as a 2026 model. Exact on-sale timing will vary by market and should firm up as launch approaches.
• How does the Porsche Macan GTS EV differ from the regular Macan EV?
  GTS variants typically bring sharper chassis tuning and sportier character, slotting between the standard models and range-toppers.
• Are electric pickups practical for towing?
  They can be, but range under load and charging access are critical. Depot or predictable-route usage suits them best.
• Is the Mazda CX-60 comfortable for long trips?
  The CX-60 is known for composed highway manners and a calm cabin, making it a strong long-distance companion.
• What’s special about “handmade” replicas?
  They’re built using traditional coachbuilding techniques, prioritizing craftsmanship and uniqueness over volume or cost.