A big year for automotive news, 2025 will be looked back on as a significant time for the industry, as old became new again, local businesses started to thrive, and the world took a step back from EVs.
Across the 12 months of the year we wrote nearly 1050 news articles, but only five truly went global.
1. First vehicle built in Walkinshaw’s new factory
In November the Walkinshaw Automotive Group officially moved out of Clayton and into Dandenong South, opening a brand-new 100,000 square metre facility with four production lines.
Ram was able to take the honours of building the first vehicle at the new site, with its popular 1500 pickup beating the likes of the Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Heavy Duty, and GMC Yukon.
The facility is expected to also be the home of the upcoming second-generation Volkswagen Amarok W-Series, while Walkinshaw TWG Racing – the rebranded Supercars team – will also move in mid-2026.
2. Ford Ranger Super Duty is too tough for humans
The Ford Ranger Super Duty is another local success story, having been engineered in Australia to suit the needs of local fleets who require high payloads and big towing capacities, without wanting to buy a huge American pickup.
Such was the extensive development program for the Ranger Super Duty that Ford got its specialist robots to drive the ute on many of its toughest tracks, ensuring the vehicle could keep going even when a human couldn’t.
Ford has already started delivering the Ranger Super Duty to local customers, as it looks to disrupt a market which for so long has been the domain of agricultural products.
3. Lexus Sport Concept unveiled
Toyota and Lexus sure know how to keep things under wraps, and when we first saw the Lexus Sport Concept in August, no one could have known it would later become the LFA Concept – an EV.
Back in August, the word was the Lexus Sport Concept would preview not only the Japanese giant’s new flagship, but also a platform upon which the new Supra would be based.
Instead, the ‘Super Supra’ turned out to be the new twin-turbo V8 Toyota GR GT, which shares its platform with the LFA Concept, though there’s no word yet on when the Lexus EV will reach production.
4. Nissan Patrol Nismo revealed
The launch of the Y63 Nissan Patrol overseas led to a new Nismo edition being unveiled this year, with the performance arm putting its own touches on the big SUV.
Like the Z Nismo sports car and previous hotted-up Patrols, the new Patrol Nismo is focused around on-road performance, with a lower ride height, trick bodykit, sporty interior and adaptive dampers.
The biggest changes were made under the bonnet, where in some markets the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine has been wound up from 317kW to 369kW, and makes more noise thanks to a Nismo-tuned exhaust. Sadly, it’s off the table for Australia.
5. Nissan launches Z Heritage Edition
It may have been a tough 12 months for Nissan but there’s still love for the brand, and it seems to also enjoy looking to its heritage after unveiling a new version of the Z.
The Nissan Z Heritage Edition pays tribute to both the Skyline GT-R of the mid-late 1990s as well as the Z32 300ZX, adding a carbon fibre spoiler with ‘Twin Turbo’ graphics which also run down the sides, while Nissan’s famed Midnight Purple also made its debut on a non-GT-R.
Other visual tweaks to the Z Heritage Edition include a gold wreath graphic around its rear three-quarter badges, as well as unique door kick plates and exclusive floor mats. Despite being a cosmetic package, it hasn’t been locked in for Australia.
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