Incoming: Purple patch for new cars in 2023

BY PETER BARNWELL | 10th Jan 2023


AFTER a few years hamstrung by various pandemic- then war-related chip, component supply and transport issues, 2023 is shaping up as a purple patch in Australia’s new-vehicle market with more than 100 new models limbering up for a local appearance.

 

If car-makers owned up to what they really had planned for this year before the world went topsy-turvy in 2020, that number would probably be bigger. Not to mention those keeping their cards close to their chests in terms of surprise reveals and debuts.

 

There are plenty of cars on the way, not the least being more than 40 new battery electric vehicles (BEV) joining a growing retinue of electron-powered models.

 

Although light-commercial BEVs are slowly beginning to filter through, plenty of electric passenger and SUV models – covering segments from affordable to luxury and high-performance – are in the pipeline.

 

Vehicles with an internal combustion engine will remain dominant, with a growing trend to electric assistance in the form of hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains.

 

This trend is pretty much industry-wide, driven by European and Chinese manufacturers that are favouring BEVs while the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi are variously having a four-way bet with HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs along with a range of purely petrol and diesel vehicles thrown in.

 

Aussie buyers remain addicted to diesel-powered one-tonne utes, a segment that will remain well catered for in 2023.

 

The Australian new-vehicle market achieved 1.08 million vehicles in 2022 despite negative influences but supply is slowly freeing up with wait times on some popular models reducing.

 

However, prices have increased markedly as manufacturers took advantage of a ‘supply and demand’ situation in the past 12 to 18 months, adding to the cost-of-living dramas caused by inflation, high fuel prices and increasing interest rates.

 

Discounts for buyers of new vehicles were generally off the agenda throughout the year, with recommended retail pricing the order of the day for most brands, though this is likely to ease in 2023 as supply constraints are resolving and new car stock is increasing.

 

Inflation notwithstanding, this should stabilise prices a little, particularly when compared with 2022.

 

With that in mind, here is GoAuto’s segment-by-segment rundown on the new models due to arrive in Australia this year and, where possible, an indication of when. 



Micro and Light Passenger Cars 

 

Stand outs for 2023 in the tiddler segments are hybrid versions of the Suzuki Swift and S Cross, along with Fiat’s e500 and an upgrade to the Mini Cooper.

 

What’s coming:

Fiat 500e

2023

Suzuki Swift HEV

2023

Mini Cooper

H2



Small Passenger Cars

 

Initial small car excitement will surround Toyota’s GR Corolla hot hatch, along with a swag of BEVs like the Cupra Born, GWM Ora Cat and MG4, with a new Subaru Impreza and VW updating the Golf before launching a PHEV version of the same later in 2023.

 

What’s coming:

BYD Dolphin

Q1

Citroen eC4 2023

2023

Cupra Born

Q1

Cupra Leon V

H1

GWM Ora Cat

H1

Mercedes-Benz A-Class update

Q2

Mercedes-Benz B-Class update

H2

MG 4 EV

Q2

MG 5

Q1

Peugeot 308 PHEV

2023

Subaru Impreza

H1

Toyota Corolla GR

Q1

Volkswagen Golf GTE PHEV

Q4

Volkswagen Golf update

Q1

 

 

Medium Passenger Cars

 

This segment’s total dominance by the Toyota Camry has been challenged by the Tesla Model 3 and more mid-size electric sedans from BYD and Hyundai are coming to chase the Musk-mobile’s market share.

 

What’s coming:

Alfa Romeo Giulia update

H1

BYD Seal

H2

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Q1

Skoda Octavia Sportline

Q3



Large and Upper Large Passenger Cars

 

At the top end the action is focused on premium models like the new BMW 5-Series and a number of electric Mercedes-Benz EQ models. We might see the first Rolls-Royce EV, the Spectre, before the year is out – among many other new or updated offerings.

 

What’s coming:

Bentley Flying Spur S

Q2

BMW 5 Series

Q4

Citroen C5-X PHEV

H2

Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG

2023

Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan

Q2

Porsche Panamera

2023

Rolls-Royce Spectre EV

2023



Sportscars

 

Contrary to some opinions, sportscars are still popular, especially now that buyers are realising that electrification means high performance in many cases, starting with Tesla.

 

The choice is wide and varied and includes things like the V8 Mustang Dark Horse (giddy-up) and dual-motor Kia EV6 GT at polar ends of the powertrain spectrum but offering similarly high levels of performance.

 

Chevrolet’s V8 Corvette Z06 is coming in a blink to offer a relatively affordable alternative to the inbound Maseratis and McLarens while Lamborghini and Porsche jack up their sportscars to create the Huracan Sterrato and 911 Dakar.

 

Some Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models are in the mix too. 

 

What’s coming:

Aston Martin Superleggera update

2023

Bentley Continental GT S

Q1

BMW M2

Q1

BMW M3 Touring

Q1

BMW M4 CSL

2023

BMW Z4 update

Q1

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

H1

Ford Mustang Dark Horse

H2

Honda Civic Type R

Q1

Kia EV6 GT

Q1

Lamborghini PHEV

2023

Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato

2023

Lotus Emira AMG

Q2

Maserati GT, GranCabrio, MC20, Folgore

H2

McLaren Artura

2023

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

2023

Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG

Q1

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Q3

Nissan Z Nismo upgrade

2023

Porsche 911 Dakar

2023



People Movers

 

Not much action is confirmed in the people mover segment for 2023, apart from an update to the Kia Carnival. It is possible that there are more Chinese van derivatives on the way, as well as a likely update to the Hyundai Staria later in the year.

 

What’s coming:

Kia Carnival update

Q4

 

 

Light, Small and Medium SUVs

 

This is where the action is as seemingly every manufacturer offers at least a couple of SUVs on the way, many covering the full spectrum of combustion through electron power.

 

Get ready for the Alfa Tonale hybrid early in the year along with BMW’s iX1 EV and Mazda’s anticipated six-cylinder hybrid powertrains in CX-60. 

 

Nissan’s new Qashqai launches the week this article goes live and anew-generation Subaru XV that is renamed Crosstrek will arrive to compete later on in 2023.

 

Honda’s bigger new CR-V will be joined by a smaller ZR-V and an updated Ford Escape will attempt to build on the model’s slow sales while Chery and Mahindra will make a comeback to the local SUV sector with several new models and SsangYong is slated to grow its line-up in Australia now its financial position is more stable.

 

What’s coming (light SUV):

Hyundai Venue update

Q1

Nissan Juke update

Q1



What’s coming (small SUV):

Alfa Romeo Stelvio update

H1

Alfa Romeo Tonale

Q1

Audi RSQ3

H1

BMW iX1

Q1

Chery Omoda 5

Q1

Hyundai Kona/Kona EV

H2

Lexus UX300e update

Q2

Mazda MX-30 Range Extender Rotary

H2

MG ZS update

2023

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross update

Q2

Nissan Qashqai ePower

Q1

Renault Arkana update

2023

Renault Megane E-Tech

Q4

Subaru Crosstrek

2023

Suzuki S-Cross HEV

2023



What’s coming (medium SUV):

Chery Tiggo 7

2023

Ford Escape update

2023

Haval H6 GT Hybrid

Q2

Honda CR-V

H2

Honda ZR-V

H2

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

2023

Hyundai Tucson HEV

2023

Jeep Recon EV

2023

Kia Sportage HEV

H2

Lexus RZ450e EV

Q2

Mahindra XUV700

2023

Mazda CX-5 update

Q1

Mazda CX-60

Q2

Mercedes-Benz GLC

2023

Mitsubishi Outlander update

Q2

Nissan X-Trail ePower

H2

Peugeot 408

2023

Polestar 3

Q4

Porsche Macan EV

Q2

Skoda Enyaq

H2

SsangYong Torres

2023

Subaru Forester Special Edition

H1

Subaru Forester Wilderness

2023

Subaru Solterra

H2

Toyota bZ4X

Q1

Volkswagen ID.4

Q4

Volkswagen ID.5

Q4

Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV

Q4




Large and Upper Large SUVs

 

Sales in this super-popular segment are dominated by wagon versions of one-tonne utes and big, luxury premium SUVs. However, this is not stopping value-oriented Chinese brand GWM entering the Haval Dargo and Tank 500 to pursue potential Prado and Patrol buyers.

 

BMW will launch updates of the X5 and X6 along with a newcomer called the XM with a plug-in hybrid V8 powertrain. Ferrari’s first SUV, the Purosangue, is due in 2023 as is (finally) the Ineos Grenadier off-roader.

 

PHEV versions of Jeep’s Grand Cherokee and the VW Touareg are on the way and a new Lexus RX model range will be hybrid heavy, whereas Mercedes-Benz is going hard with the addition of more EQ electric SUV models and the Porsche Cayenne will get a facelift. 

 

What’s coming:

Audi Q8 and SQ8 e-Tron

2023

Bentley Bentayga HEV

2023

Bentley Flying Spur S

Q2

BMW X5 & X6 Update

2023

BMW XM

Q1

Chery Tiggo 8

2023

Citroen C5-X PHEV

H2

Ferrari Purosangue

Q4

Ford Everest Update

Q1

GWM Haval Dargo

Q1

GWM Tank 500 SUV

Q3

Ineos Grenadier

Q1

Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV

Q1

Jeep Wagoneer S EV

2023

Kia EV9

H2

Lamborghini Urus

H2

Land Rover Sport SVR

2023

Lexus RX

Q1

Mahindra Scorpio-N

2023

Maserati Grecale

Q1

Mazda CX-8 update

H1

Mazda CX-90

Q1

Mercedes- Benz EQE SUV

Q3

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Q2

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport update

Q1

Nissan Patrol Warrior

2023

Porsche Cayenne Update

2023

Subaru Outback Update

2023

Subaru Outback Wilderness

2023

Toyota Kluger Turbo

Q1

Volkswagen Touareg PHEV

H2

Volvo EX90 EV SUV

Q4



Light Commercial Vehicles 

 

Australia’s LCV segment looks like being ‘steady as she goes’ in 2023 with a couple of electric vans on the way from Ford (eTransit) and Renault Kangoo (E-Tech).

 

Things might get more interesting if we see electric utes from Chinese manufacturers Geely (Radar), Chery and GWM.

 

Less speculative are the HiLux GR Sport flagship, more big North American pick-ups and a good chance we will see a new Mitsubishi Triton in local showrooms this year.

 

What’s coming:

Chery ute

Q3

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Premium

Q2

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Q4

Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

Q3

Ford eTransit

Q1

Ford F-150

H2

Mitsubishi Triton

2023

Peugeot ePartner van

2023

Renault Kangoo (incl E-Tech)

H1

Skoda ute

2023

Toyota HiLux GR Sport

2023

Volkswagen Amarok

Q1



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