SHINY NEW METAL
This year will be a big one for new utes, SUVs and electric vehicles
This year is shaping up as a big one for the car industry. As supply issues continue to ease, we can expect a rush of exciting new models, from sports cars and utes to hybrids and electric vehicles. Here are the 10 biggest new-car launches of 2023.
FORD F-150
The world’s top-selling ute, the F-150, makes its way Down Under in the middle of the year.
Powered by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol engine, matched to a 10-speed auto, the F-150 will appeal to grey nomads and equestrian types thanks to its 4.5-tonne towing capacity. For those lamenting the demise of the sporty Focus and Fiesta ST hot hatches, there will be a new version of the Mustang by year’s end.
VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK
The Amarok should be Volkswagen’s bestselling vehicle next year, after the arrival of the new model in April.
It shares underpinnings with the widely lauded Ford Ranger but Melbourne-based VW engineers have worked hard to differentiate their ute. The interior has a VW look and feel, while the German brand will offer different engine options.
The Amarok will share the Ranger’s 3.0-litre diesel V6, as well as offering a 2.3-litre petrol turbo four-cylinder.
TOYOTA BZ4X
Australia’s most popular brand is late to the EV party but that will be remedied in the middle of next year when the bZ4X arrives.
Roughly the size of a mid-size SUV, the bZ4X will be available in front-drive and all-wheel drive guises and will produce 150kW and 264Nm.
A 71.4kWh battery will deliver up to 500km of range and accept up to 150kW of charge via a DC charger.
For the petrolheads, a red-hot GR version of the Corolla will also debut this year.
SUBARU CROSSTREK
The Crosstrek small SUV arrives early in the New Year as a replacement for the popular Subaru XV.
It will be based on the same platform as the updated Impreza hatch, while its engines are likely to be mildly tweaked versions of the current 2.0-litre and hybrid four-cylinder motors.
The Japanese brand will also debut its first EV, the Solterra, which was co-developed with Toyota.
NISSAN QASHQAI
New versions of the X-Trail and Pathfinder landed late last year and an all-new Qashqai small SUV arrives this month.
The updated Qashqai is bigger and more luxurious than its predecessor and will eventually offer a hybrid option for the first time, allowing Nissan to take the fight to Toyota’s C-HR and Corolla Cross hybrids.
Prices start at $37,000 drive-away and rise to about $51,000 for the top-line models.
MAZDA CX-60
Mazda will roll the dice in June by launching an all-new, all-wheel-drive SUV powered by two six-cylinder engines and a plug-in hybrid.
The CX-60 is part of an ambitious plan to move the Japanese brand up-market and the most expensive model, the plug-in hybrid Azami, starts at $85,500 plus on-roads.
The cheapest model, which starts at a fraction less than $60,000 plus on-roads, will be powered by a 3.3-litre six-cylinder mild hybrid, while a 3.3-litre in-line six-cylinder turbo diesel will cost $2000 more.
HYUNDAI KONA
Hyundai will add a hybrid version when it launches its new Kona small SUV in the middle of this year.
The new model is longer and wider than its predecessor and will be based on an “EVderived” platform, which should liberate more cabin space.
It borrows styling cues from the awardwinning Ioniq 5 EV, including dual 12.3-inch digital displays for the infotainment and instrument cluster.
The brand will also debut its Ioniq 6 electric sedan in 2023.