Today in Cars: Ford’s $30K EV Truck Teases Vegas, Pajero Returns on Ute Bones, and Range Rover Electric Opens Its Order Book

I love mornings like this: a prototype sneaks down the Strip wearing manufacturer plates, an old off-road nameplate returns with new bones, and somewhere in Melbourne a Walkinshaw workshop is making a ute-turned-truck sit just right. Meanwhile, boardrooms are busy—China’s telling its automakers to cool it on price wars, Porsche is guarding its vowels, and Toyota somehow turned a minivan into an $86 dessert. Let’s dive in.

Ford Fathom: The Sub-$30,000 Electric Truck That Went Cruising

Ford didn’t just whisper about affordability—it rolled it down Las Vegas Boulevard. The new Fathom, a compact electric pickup with a target starting price around $30,000 (reports peg it at roughly $29,945), broke cover in public. I spent the morning replaying the clips and pausing on fender lines like a lunatic. The proportions read Maverick-sized, the stance is friendly not combative, and the whole thing gives off “daily-use pickup” energy rather than “desert racer cosplay.” Good. We need more of that.

• Target price: about $30,000 before incentives
• Public debut: prototype cruised through Las Vegas
• Mission: urban-friendly utility with an accessible EV price point
• Vibe: compact bed, approachable styling, commuter-first packaging

If Ford nails charging speed and payload that fits real life—think apartment moves and weekend projects rather than fifth-wheels—it’ll be the right EV truck for the tens of thousands who just need a truck sometimes. I’ve long said the first electric pickup to feel like a Civic with a bed, not a moonshot, will win hearts. Fathom looks pointed at exactly that bullseye.

Mitsubishi Pajero Is Back: Why It Now Rides on a Ute Platform

Mitsubishi has revived the Pajero name for 2027, and the big news isn’t just the badge—it’s the bones. The new Pajero shares its ladder-frame architecture with the Triton ute. CarExpert walked through the logic, and it tracks with what we’ve seen from Toyota (Fortuner) and Ford (Everest): global toughness, lower development costs, and parts commonality. Motor1 framed it as a return to fight the Land Cruiser clan, which is exactly where Pajero belongs in our heads anyway.

Why the ute bones make sense

• Durability: ladder frames laugh at corrugations and towing duty
• Cost efficiency: sharing with Triton keeps price and complexity in check
• Global reach: one platform, many markets, easier homologation
• Capability: proper low-range and real ground clearance are back on the menu

I grew up associating Pajero with Paris–Dakar grit, but also with quiet, long-haul reliability. A ute base suggests the reborn model will skew more utilitarian than luxo-barge. If Mitsubishi keeps the cabin calm and ditches any fake off-road theater, families will love it for the school run and ski trips alike. Expect powertrains and hardware to echo the Triton’s toolbox; official specs will fill in soon enough.

Body-on-frame SUV field guide (quick compare)

Tested Down Under: Volkswagen Amarok W600 by Walkinshaw

Australians get the coolest utes, and Walkinshaw keeps proving it. The Amarok W600, fettled locally, turns VW’s already-capable dual-cab into something that looks ready for a Cape York run straight from the dealership. CarExpert’s review pegs the W600 as a complete package—suspension tune, rubber, stance, the works.

• Walkinshaw upgrades: suspension, wheels/tires, bodywork, interior tweaks
• Character: more body control on rough surfaces, more tire hum on the highway
• Audience: buyers who want Ranger Raptor attitude with VW polish

In past Walkinshaw-tuned Amaroks I’ve driven, there’s a lovely honesty to the setup—firmer, more tied down, but never masochistic. If you spend time on unsealed roads, the tune pays you back in confidence. Just budget for the inevitable AT-tire thrum on coarse-chip bitumen.

Range Rover Electric (2027): Orders Open in Australia

Range Rover has opened order books for its first full electric flagship in Australia, with deliveries targeted for 2027. Details are still rolling in, but the intent is pure Range Rover: serene, whisper-quiet luxury that still knows how to claw up a muddy hillside. If they deliver a proper towing figure and keep the wading bravado intact, this could be the silent assassin of the luxury EV SUV set.

• Ordering: open now in Australia
• Positioning: flagship luxury EV SUV with authentic off-road cred
• What I’m watching: ride quality, charging speed, and real-world range with 22s

Boardroom and Brand Watch

China to its automakers: no overseas price wars

According to CarExpert, Beijing has told its car brands to ease off the cut‑throat pricing in export markets. Translation for shoppers: don’t expect a perpetual slide in EV sticker prices. Translation for rivals: a little margin discipline might actually stabilize the market. I’ll be watching how this plays with tariffs and local assembly plans in Europe and North America.

Porsche challenges “Forthing Taikon 5” trademark

Porsche is reportedly contesting the “Taikon 5” name from Forthing, arguing it’s a little too close for comfort to Taycan. These cases often hinge on consumer confusion and category overlap. Even if you can tell your umlauts from your long vowels, brand equity is big money—and Stuttgart’s lawyers don’t skip arm day.

Toyota’s $86 ice cream sandwich

Carscoops flagged a whimsical collab that pairs the humble Sienna minivan with a very un‑humble $86 ice cream sandwich. Is it marketing theater? Absolutely. Did I immediately picture a limited-run “Quiet Mode” flavor for sleeping toddlers? Also yes. Sometimes the car world needs a laugh.

What it all means for your driveway

If you’re cross-shopping right now, the Ford Fathom’s Vegas cameo signals that truly affordable EV trucks are nearly here. If your heart beats for old-school off-roaders, the Pajero’s return on Triton bones suggests a proper seven-seat 4WD is coming without the couture price tag. And if you’re saving for a hushed, leather-lined electric lounge, Range Rover just put your name on a list. The rest—Walkinshaw’s W600, trademark skirmishes, and policy nudges—are the currents under the surface, shaping what shows up at your dealership next year.

Quick hits

• Ford Fathom: compact, electric, about $30K—prototype driven publicly in Vegas
• Mitsubishi Pajero (2027): reborn on Triton ladder frame to tackle Land Cruiser-land
• VW Amarok W600: Walkinshaw’s Aussie-tuned special with real-world suspension gains
• Range Rover Electric: orders open in Australia ahead of 2027 deliveries
• China policy: warning to avoid export price wars may steady EV pricing
• Porsche vs. Forthing: Taycan vs. “Taikon 5” heads to the trademark mats
• Toyota dessert: Sienna-themed, $86 ice cream—because why not

FAQ

When will the Ford Fathom go on sale and how much will it cost?

Ford hasn’t announced on-sale timing yet, but the prototype’s public run in Las Vegas suggests it’s getting close. The target starting price is around $30,000 before incentives.

Is the new Mitsubishi Pajero coming to North America?

Mitsubishi hasn’t confirmed markets yet. The Pajero is confirmed for a 2027 launch and rides on the Triton ute platform, with broader regional details to come.

What exactly is the Amarok W600 by Walkinshaw?

It’s a locally developed, Australia-focused upgrade of Volkswagen’s Amarok with Walkinshaw-tuned suspension, wheels/tires, and styling and interior tweaks aimed at boosting off-road composure and showroom presence.

Can I order the Range Rover Electric now?

In Australia, yes—orders are open for deliveries targeted in 2027. Other markets should follow with their own timelines.

Will Chinese EV prices go up because of the price-war warning?

Not necessarily up, but the guidance suggests less aggressive discounting abroad. Expect more stable pricing rather than constant undercutting.