Premium cars, SUVS hit market
The QV uses the same 375kw600nm 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 as the Giulia QV sedan.
Audi will bolster its electrified model offerings with the plug-in hybrid e-tron version of its Q7 large SUV in quarter one, priced from $139,900 plus on-road costs, which is more than PHEV versions of rivals including the BMW X5, Mercedes-benz GLE500, Porsche Cayenne and Volvo XC90.
Fellow German BMW will lob its X2 compact coupe-crossover early in the year, kicking off with the $55,900 two-wheel-drive petrol sdrive20i, ahead of the anticipated arrival of diesel variants. The urban-focused X2 is a direct rival for the Audi Q2 and competes against the Mini Countryman.
Land Rover is now offering model year 2018 versions of its Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, while MY2018 Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport all hit showrooms in March.
Lexus will widen the appeal of its RX large SUV in February with the arrival of the three-row seven-seat RX-L in 450h hybrid and 350 petrol guise. The car-maker already offers the seven-seat LX570 but it is a petrol V8 only and attracts a different buyer to the RX soft-roader.
The Lx-rivalling Infiniti QX80 hits Australian shores in the first half and is likely to build on its small sales numbers with the facelifted version that swaps out the polarising design with a more modern and conventional look.
Jaguar’s E-pace crossover will fill a gap in its line-up under the F-pace when it lands in the second quarter with the British car-maker pitching it against the BMW X1, Mercedes-benz GLA and Audi Q3.
After a lengthy gestation period, Lamborghini will introduce its highly anticipated Urus SUV in the second quarter with the Italian ‘super SUV’ to be powered by a new 478kw-850nm 4.0-litre V8 that helps propel it from 0-100kmh in 3.6 seconds.
The potent 375kw-700nm Mercedes-amg GLC63 and its Coupe twin land in the second quarter, and the German car-maker says the hi-po high-rider will be so popular that it might overtake the C63 sedan and wagon as the best-selling AMG in Australia.
Volvo’s XC40 hits the road in April and while the Swedish car-maker is yet to announce pricing, it will likely be positioned to battle the aforementioned premium crossovers such as the X1, GLA, Q3 and their ilk.
The XC40 will be the first Volvo to use the company’s CMA modular vehicle architecture that will underpin the next V40 as well as models from Volvo’s Chinese parent company Geely.
Porsche’s all-new third-generation Cayenne lands mid-year with three petrol powertrains on offer initially – the company has remained quiet on diesel versions – ahead of plug-in hybrid offerings further down the track.
Infiniti will target the Lexus NX, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 with its QX50 crossover that lands in the second half, underpinned by an all-new platform and powered by a variable-compression engine that the company says ‘combines the power of a 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine with the torque and efficiency of a four-cylinder diesel engine’.
Mercedes’ new G-class might look the same in images, but a closer inspection of the rugged four-wheel drive at the Detroit motor show highlighted the visual changes.
The big German lands in the third quarter and also gains a significant uptick in on-board technology with E-class-style display screens, as well as more comfort features.
A more potent version of Land Rover’s new Discovery, dubbed the SVX and tuned by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations unit, hits the road in the fourth quarter, powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine and offering increased off-road capability.
Jaguar is heading in a different direction this year with the launch if its first EV, the I-pace crossover, which is expected to have a driving range of 400-500km, with the car-maker rolling out EV chargers at all of its dealerships.
While it is yet to be confirmed, Maserati is expected to reveal a firebreathing GTS version of its Levante SUV this year, which is rumoured to be powered by a Ferrari-sourced V8.