Daily Car News: Hyundai i30 N Might Go Hybrid, Toyota’s Busy Playbook, and an Open-Top Ineos for Giraffe Spotting

I started the morning with an espresso and a gentle panic about the death of hot hatches—then a whisper about the Hyundai i30 N continuing (with a hybrid twist) put the smile back. From there it was Toyota’s revolving door of headlines, Ford’s quiet European chess moves, and an Ineos Grenadier that’s basically a rolling sunburn. Somewhere between all that, Europe’s EV calculus keeps shifting and Jack Doohan booked a date with Suzuka. Let’s unpack it.

Hyundai i30 N: The Hot Hatch That Won’t Quit (and Might Add Batteries)

Reports suggest the Hyundai i30 N is sticking around, potentially with some form of electrified assistance. Frankly, good. The last time I hustled an i30 N across battered B-roads, that 2.0-litre turbo’s shove (about 206 kW/276 hp) and the properly naughty diff turned rainy roundabouts into private jokes between me and the front axle. If Hyundai adds hybrid help—likely mild-hybrid or a compact e-boost—I can see smoother torque fill, calmer fuel bills, and a smidge more city civility. The trade-off? Weight. Always weight.

Why the Hyundai i30 N Still Matters

• It’s one of the last hot hatches that still feels mischievous, not medicated.
• Steering that talks back; a front end that bites harder than most.
• Real pace: think roughly 0–100 km/h in the high fives with DCT, low sixes with a manual if you’re tidy with the clutch.

What a Hybrid Hyundai i30 N Might Drive Like

Picture off-boost softness gone, a little e-kick smoothing out the gap between second and third, and brake regen that (if tuned right) barely registers. When I tried similar setups on rough roads in other performance hybrids, the best ones felt like a tailwind. The worst felt like a wet blanket. Fingers crossed for the former.

Hyundai i30 N: My Wish List for the Update

• Keep the steering feel and that lightly playful rear. Do not sanitize it.
• Manual option must live on—even if the DCT outsells it.
• Exhaust theatrics are fun, but ditch the motorway drone at 110 km/h.
• Infotainment shortcuts on the wheel, please. Poking a screen mid-corner is not a sport.

Toyota Tuesday: Security Fixes, HiLux Hybrid Talk, Tacoma’s Aussie Tease, and Century With a Lexus Lanyard

Toyota acknowledges security issues

Toyota has owned up to ongoing security concerns and says fixes are rolling out. A few owners mentioned to me that they’d started double-checking door locks in dim carparks—can’t blame them. Expect software patches and, in some cases, hardware changes. In the meantime, the boring advice works:

• Use deadlocks; don’t leave keys near the front door.
• Old-school steering lock = priceless deterrent.
• Park nose-in to a wall where possible to block access to vulnerable points.

HiLux Hybrid is under serious consideration

Toyota’s weighing a hybrid HiLux—not for every trim, but enough to matter. They’ve already flirted with 48V assistance in some markets. A fuller hybrid that trims city consumption and adds low-speed torque off-road would be brilliant. I’ve done long Outback slogs in diesels; fewer fuel stops and quieter take-offs make a difference when you’re hours from anywhere. Just don’t kneecap payload or towing.

Tacoma’s Australian chances are real

The new-gen Tacoma rides on TNGA-F bones and offers the hybrid i-FORCE MAX overseas. It looks like the ute for weekends at the beach and midweek Bunnings runs. The puzzle is right-hand drive and where it sits next to HiLux on price and purpose. If Toyota threads that needle, it’s a tidy one-two.

Ultra-luxe Century could be sold via Lexus in Australia

There’s chatter about the Century being retailed by Lexus locally. Makes sense. Picture Lexus hospitality wrapped around Toyota’s most discreet luxury—chauffeur-ready, whisper-quiet, and the opposite of shouty. I once sat in a Century crawling through Tokyo; it felt like being in a soft library where the shelves are made of cashmere.

Australia’s Powertrain Tipping Point: Nearly 30% of New Cars Are Electrified

Per CarExpert, HEVs, PHEVs, and BEVs are tracking toward 30% of the market. That aligns with what dealers keep telling me: hybrids are the stealth heroes, BEVs are flying in suburbs with reliable home charging, and PHEVs are the fence-sitters’ friend.

• Drivers love: more choice, sharper pricing, and real-world fuel savings.
• Still a pain: patchy public charging once you’re outside capital cities.
• Next wave: hybrid utes and city BEVs priced to tempt Corolla buyers.

Ford’s European Strategy: Renault Bones for Budget EVs, and a Facelift You Can’t Have

Ford to use a Renault platform for two affordable EVs

Autocar reports Ford will lean on a Renault-developed platform for two wallet-friendly EVs in Europe. That’s just smart. EVs are expensive to do alone, and Renault knows its way around small-to-compact electrics. Expect realistic ranges, modest footprints, and prices that don’t scare Fiesta alumni.

Explorer facelift shows up—just not in the U.S.

There’s a refreshed Explorer, but it’s not for America. Ford’s global naming can be a maze: same badges, different faces and tech stacks. If you rented an Explorer in Europe and thought it felt… different—you’re not imagining it.

Quick detour: the Ford sports car that almost was

Apparently a gorgeous Ford prototype nearly became the brand’s first true sports car. I keep picturing a Blue Oval halo car doing the school run by day and track days by night. Somewhere a clay model is sulking in a basement, and honestly, same.

Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer: The Roof? Optional.

Ineos built exactly what your safari guide orders: the Grenadier “Game Viewer,” with a chopped or elevated roof, open sides, and seats arranged for wildlife spotting rather than latte commuting. I drove a standard Grenadier over corrugations and it shrugged off punishment like a good cattle dog. This version looks even more single-minded.

• Open-air, high-vantage roof and side cutouts for unobstructed views.
• Wash-and-wear cabin—hose it, dry it, go again.
• Same tough ladder frame and low-range hardware underneath.

What you’ll love: the honesty. What you’ll miss: sound insulation. Pack sunscreen; your hat is the headliner.

Design Watch: The New Mercedes GLB Has a Dash of Smart

Fresh GLB, and I can’t unsee it—little Smart-like cues in the lights and surfacing. Within the Mercedes/Smart family, some DNA mingling feels inevitable. Still, the GLB’s packaging remains sweet for city families: compact footprint, boxy utility, occasional third row, and easy parking when the school run turns feral.

Macro Moves: Will Chinese Brands’ Grip on Europe Ease?

Autocar’s analysis suggests the hill is getting steeper: tariffs, anti-subsidy probes, rules-of-origin on batteries, and a rush by European brands to localize or partner (see Ford–Renault). I don’t think Chinese brands vanish—they’re too strong on tech and value—but the slam-dunk pricing advantage could soften. Expect more European assembly and fewer bargain-bin sticker shocks.

Motorsport Minute: Jack Doohan to Test in Super Formula at Suzuka

Jack Doohan’s a late call-up for Super Formula testing at Suzuka, and that’s a power move. The cars are seriously quick—close to F1 in cornering—and Suzuka’s a proper skills audit. If you like single-seaters loud, light, and precise, this is your Sunday streaming plan.

Holiday Reality Check: Four in Five Aussies Admit to Road Rage

As Christmas traffic snarls begin, nearly 80% of Australians say they’ve copped or dished out road rage. I watched two otherwise normal adults unravel over a parking spot last year. A few sanity savers:

• Add 10 minutes to every trip. It’s cheaper than therapy.
• Windows up, mouth closed. You won’t “win.”
• Snacks and water onboard—hanger is real and dangerous.

Bottom Line

The Hyundai i30 N looks set to keep the hot-hatch flame flickering—maybe with a little electric boost—while Toyota juggles security fixes, hybrid utes, and a posh Century that might shake hands with Lexus. Ford’s teaming up to make EVs affordable, Ineos built a safari special with more sky than roof, and the market keeps edging toward electrification whether we’re ready or not. Bring a charger map, sunscreen, and your sense of humor.

FAQ

• Is the Hyundai i30 N definitely going hybrid? Not confirmed, but reports point to some level of electrified assistance—think mild-hybrid or small e-boost rather than a full EV.
• Will the Hyundai i30 N keep a manual? That’s the hope. The manual is part of its charm, even if the DCT is quicker and more popular.
• Is Australia getting a hybrid HiLux? Toyota says it’s under consideration for select variants. Payload and towing numbers will be key.
• Will the new Tacoma come to Australia? It’s being evaluated. Right-hand drive viability and pricing versus HiLux will decide it.
• What’s the Ineos Grenadier Game Viewer actually for? Safari and wildlife operations—open-air visibility, rugged underpinnings, minimal frills. School run? Not ideal.