Car news today: Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq locked in for Australia, shock Tesla Cybertruck update, Nissan GT-R reborn for Adelaide Motorsport Festival— 10th March 2025

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Thanks for joining us this Monday March 10th 2025. Tesla Cybertruck update for Australia, Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq models confirmed for Australia, Nissan GT-R reborn for Adelaide Motorsport Festival and more.

Browse this issue:

• Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq models confirmed for Australia 
• Shock Tesla Cybertruck update for Australia
• Nissan GT-R R32 reborn for Adelaide Motorsport Festival 
• Latest autonomous driver technology unveiled in Japan 
• 2025 JAC T9 4×4 ute reviewed 

Cadillac Optiq and Vistiq models confirmed for Australia 

• Cadillac will introduce two new all-electric models sitting either side of the Lyriq, which is currently available to order. 

• The Optiq is Cadillac’s BMW iX3 and Audi Q6 e-tron sized model and will be the volume play. Twin electric motors provide AWD along with 224kW and 480Nm for the two-row SUV.

• The Vistiq, meanwhile, is a vast 5.2-metre long luxury SUV akin to the Audi Q8 e-tron, BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz EQS. Cadillac’s take provides three rows of seating, nearly 460kW, air ride active suspension and around 500km driving range.

• Both models are expected to arrive in Australia in 2026 and sit alongside the $117,000 (before on-road costs) Lyriq. Pricing, features and final specifications are yet to be confirmed. 

Shock Tesla Cybertruck update for Australia

• Tesla Country Director for Australia and New Zealand Thom Drew revealed to Chasing Cars that the Cybertruck could be on the cards for Australia after all — providing enough interest can be drummed up.

• “There is nothing else like Cybertruck in the market, looks aside – it is not for everyone,” said Drew, noting he and Tesla’s local arm see “untapped potential” for the vehicle in Australia, especially after the success of the electrified BYD Shark 6.

• Drew also confirmed the Cybertruck does not have a right-hand-drive conversion limitation, thanks largely to its steer-by-wire system and sparse cabin. Work will be needed for the Cybertruck to comply with strict ADRs, but Drew seems confident.

• Pricing could approach $200,000 for the flagship 630kW/1396Nm Cyberbeast, while a twin-motor version could be around $150,000. Stay tuned for future developments.

• Read the full story here.

Nissan GT-R R32 reborn for Adelaide Motorsport Festival

• The original ‘Godzilla’ returned to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival 35 years after its first appearance in this country. 

• Both on show statically and dynamically, the iconic Nissan GT-R R32 was meticulously built by Gibson Motorsport — the same team which dominated The Mountain in that period. 

• Although the chassis was borrowed from an import destined for the scrapheap, the car features many parts from the original ‘GMS-001’ car along with period correct bits that would have been on the car when a young Mark Skaife debuted it at Mallala. 

• The GT-R wears the same livery it did at the 1990 Tooheys Bathurst 1000 race.

Latest autonomous driver technology unveiled in Japan

• Nissan is looking to become a leader in autonomous driving in Japan and has, for the first time in Japan, let a driverless vehicle loose to navigate a public road system in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai area.

• The Serena minivan was equipped with an array of sensors along with onboard AI to help it recognise, predict and make judgements on vehicles and environments surrounding it. 

• The self-driving Serena is the latest development in a driverless mobility service Nissan is planning to launch in Japan.

• Nissan’s AI trial follows the much-publicised debut of Tesla’s Robocabs, which circulated a controlled space by themselves in 2024 with an apparent launch set for late 2026.

2025 JAC T9 4×4 ute reviewed 

• Our 4×4 specialist Evan Spence took a spin in the latest cut-price ute from China, the JAC T9 and found out some interesting details.

• With a turbo-diesel powerplant and 3200kg braked towing capacity for under $50,000 drive-away, Evan was intrigued by the similarities to a HiLux underneath and impressed by the standard rear disc brakes. 

• But without enough time to take the JAC T9 for a proper test off-road, question marks remain about its capability and durability. Expect a more in-depth test in the future. 
• Watch the full review: Here

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Tuesday 11th March at 4.30pm Sydney time.