Ford Mustang Mach-E 2026: midsize rival to the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7 to receive a midlife facelift
String of updates coming to Ford Oz’s sole non-commercial EV, with pricing to remain largely unchanged
Ford Australia has confirmed a range of minor cosmetic upgrades for its Mustang Mach-E alongside power and efficiency improvements to its dedicated EV drivetrain.
Pricing of the Mustang Mach-E is set to remain largely unchanged for the Q4 2025 update, now starting from $65,990 for base Select models (up $1000), $80,490 for midrange Premium grades, and topping out at $98,490 for range topping GT variants (both up $500).
Prices shown for above grades are before on-road costs.
Closest rivals to the Mustang Mach-E include the EV segment leading Tesla Model Y, from $58,900, and popular newcomer BYD Sealion 7, from $54,990. Both before on-roads.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is another close rival to the Mustang Mach-E. That car now starts from $65,990 drive-away on offer as part of an EV price reduction onslaught undertaken by the Korean automaker.
Headlining the 2026 Mach-E facelift are two notable performance enhancements, which apply to both the entry-level Select and range topping GT grade.
The Mustang Mach-E Select will gain a 14kW and 95Nm kick, now outputting peaks of 212kW/525Nm from its single electric motor and unchanged 73kWh (usable) battery. This peak output will be shared by the Mach-E Premium, up from 216kW/430Nm.
The Select range figure also improves, now 470km combined, tested to WLTP standards. The Premium’s range is unchanged at 600km, as is its 88kWh battery.
The MY26 Mach-E GT will become Ford Oz’s most powerful EV to date, set to output 434kW/955Nm to all four wheels — up 21.2 and 11.0 percent, from 358kW/860Nm.
The updates for the MY26 GT come just in time to contend with Tesla’s 461kW/741Nm Model Y Performance, which starts at $89,400 before on-road costs, as well as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which starts from $110,383 before on-roads and produces 478kW/770Nm (N Grin Boost figure shown).
The GT’s range figure also improves, now quoted as 515km WLTP. Both the Mach-E GT and Premium also benefit from reduced rapid DC charge times, now replenishing 10-80 percent of battery in 36 minutes, peaking at 150kW DC.
All Mustang Mach-E models will additionally benefit from a new heat pump, which improves powertrain thermal efficiency, alongside new alloy wheel designs.
Inside, all models receive 10-way power adjustable front seats (up from eight-way), and a new column shifter which replaces the outgoing rotary dial gear selector. The new gear selector provides more space within the cabin, says Ford.
Select and Premium models gain a revised suspension geometry, with new sway bars, springs, and dampers. Ford claims the revisions will provide a more comfortable ride without losing a “sporty feel”.
Other minor model specific upgrades for MY26 include:
- Standard equipment projector headlights slated for the base Select to match those seen in the Premium and GT
- Matte black enhancements to lower portions of front, rear and side panels for Premium models, as well as colour-matched wheel arches replacing outgoing gloss black
- New grille design for GT
Ford has additionally revealed six new colourways for the MY26 Mach-E, available at a $700 premium over standard Shadow Black and Star White.
The new colours are: Velocity Blue, Molten Magenta, Glacier Grey, Grabber Yellow, Terrain, and Eruption Green.https://www.chasingcars.com.au/ads/620×160/
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Mainstream three-row crossovers aren’t exactly thin on the ground these days, but very few capture our interest, and none have sustained that attention like the Kia Telluride. A 10Bester since it hit the market for 2020, and with a revamped version expected for 2026, the Telluride mid-size SUV is the rare vehicle that maintains its crown through an entire generation.
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New 2026 GWM models coming to Australia: Haval, Ora, Wey product offensive unleashed!
1 day ago
New Wey sub-brand to lead 2026 releases, but Haval, Ora, Tank and Cannon expected to receive attention next year
Having launched seven new products this year, GWM is ready to do it all again — confirming that it will launch “at least” seven more new models in Australia in 2026 across its five sub-brands.
GWM’s multi-brand showrooms are set to become so chocker-block with new metal that the Chinese conglomerate is seeking to convince dealers to join a new “Rise” program that will see retailers and GWM co-invest in larger retail sites.
Only by joining “Rise” will GWM dealers be allowed to sell at least two new models that will come to Australia in 2026 under the new Wey luxury sub-brand, with the Wey G9 minivan and Wey Blue Mountain large SUV locked and loaded for a local release.
Wey luxury sub-brand to bring two PHEV models to Australia
“We are going to launch the Wey brand, which is very much tied into what we need to do about our brand,” GWM Australia chief operating officer John Kett told media including Chasing Cars.
“There will be certain conditions under which dealers will get access to the Wey brand. Rise is a project where the dealers need to invest in larger stores, so we can really showcase all of our brands and our portfolio.”
Both the Wey G9 and Wey Blue Mountain use a similar all-wheel drive 1.5-litre turbo petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with 358kW and 380kW of power respectively. Both are expected to be priced under $100,000.
“We see PHEVs as being the battleground in [Australia] over the coming years. If we can win with that tech, that allows us to keep petrol and diesel going for longer,” said GWM Australia head of marketing Steve Maciver.
New PHEVs plus first EV option planned for Haval SUV range
The Haval brand will be revitalised in different ways in 2026. While not a new model launch, GWM’s best-seller — the Haval H6 midsize SUV — will benefit from a comprehensive Australian suspension/steering retune early next year.
“We have just launched the H6 [facelift] as a PHEV, and the new next-generation H7 will also be a [PHEV],” said Kett.
Alongside the next-gen H7, which is expected for launch in 2026, Kett also confirmed that Haval will expand the Jolion small SUV lineup with the Jolion Pro — a new model that will provide PHEV and, in a first for Haval, a full battery electric (BEV) version.
But Haval is expected to again miss a large three-row SUV option in 2026. A plan for the Wey Blue Mountain to wear Haval badges locally has been abandoned in favour of positioning that crossover in premium territory.
Tank 500, Cannon Alpha to get bigger pure-diesel engine option
The low-CO2 Wey luxury PHEV models will help GWM attain emissions credits under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) regime under which pure petrol/diesel vehicles are penalised.
Those credits will backstop GWM’s planned rollout of a new 3.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine for the Tank 500 large 4WD and Cannon Alpha large ute in 2026. Both of those models are now available with a PHEV alternative, giving buyers powertrain options.
GWM is also working on two other pure internal combustion projects, but they are expected for launch in 2027.
One is a new super-capable, top-tier 4WD model that has been confirmed to be pure ICE, while GWM is also developing a 4.0-litre petrol V8 engine that has been tested in the Tank 300.
Ora EV sub-brand expanding into small and possibly midsize SUVs
GWM’s hitherto smallest sub-brand, Ora, started life as a BEV-only specialist and in Australia, it presently offers only the eponymous “Ora” small hatchback — one of the country’s cheapest BEVs and a vehicle that is regularly discounted.
But while GWM Australia has pivoted to concentrate on PHEVs — which are compliant under NVES laws and seen as more immediately palatable to local buyers — Ora’s BEV lineup will be expanded with one or two models, this time SUVs.
“In the small SUV segment, we will certainly have an Ora SUV next year,” Kett said. “We are still considering a midsize SUV coming out of the Ora lineup.”
That small SUV will be the GWM Ora 5, which is similar in size to the BYD Atto 3. Battery sizes and driving range is not yet known but is expected to sit around 500km (WLTP).
The forthcoming midsize Ora SUV has not yet been revealed — but it is expected to offer both BEV and PHEV powertrain options with GWM global chief technology officer Nicole Wu revealing to Australian media that Ora will pivot away from solely focussing on BEVs.
“When we launched the Ora brand, a lot of customers gave feedback to us that they loved the size, convenience and styling, but [that] they don’t want a BEV — they want hybrid or PHEV,” Wu said.
