THE CARS THAT STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF ATTRACTING THAI ENTHUSIASTS WITH MONEY TO SPARE

AUDI RS4 AVANT Audi’s uber wagon is back with a new heart borrowed from the RS5 Coupe: 450hp 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6 and eight-speed automatic good for 4.1sec from 0-100kph. Mind, sales of RS Audis may only come to Thailand after S versions.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT Crewe’s entry-level coupe gets renewed in the next-gen form with new dual-clutch automatic, lighter platform accommodating 48V electrical system, digital readouts on the fascia and carried-over W12 engine tweaked to 635hp.

BMW X3 Popular SUV has gone third-gen with evolutionary looks, bigger body but carried-over engines and transmission. Performance and economy is maintained due to a lighter body. For the first time, there’s the second-from-top 360hp M40i.

FERRARI PORTOFINO Made as a replacement for the California T, Ferrari’s new entry-level sports car gains a new name. Available with a folding hardtop roof and a lighter chassis, the Portofino uses the same 3.9-litre bi-turbo V8 albeit with a higher 600hp.

LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR ROADSTER S More of a midlife update, Lambo’s hairy open-top supercar sees some design tweaks, active aerodynamics, rear-wheel-steering and an S initial to indicate that power of the naturally aspirated V12 has risen from 700hp to 740hp.

PORSCHE CAYENNE Now in its third generation, Porsche’s flagship SUV evolves in a very super-evolutionary manner and sports many improvements first seen in the Panamera including new chassis, downsized V6 and V8 motors and touchscreen console.

AUDI A8 Audi’s flagship saloon has been renewed in nextgeneration form and is claimed to be one of the most high-tech cars around thanks to Level 3 autonomous driving capability. A plug-in hybrid is set to follow next year.

AUDI R8 RWS Ingolstadt’s mid-engined supercar has gone rearwheel drive. Despite being 50kg lighter and identically powered to the 540hp all-wheel-drive V10, the RWS is slower from 0-100kph by 0.2sec, at 3.7sec.

BMW M5 Munich’s biggest M saloon gains 600hp from a modified V8 of its predecessor, ditches the old dual-clutch automatic in favour of torqueconverter type and, for the first time, adopts four-wheel-drive that can switch to rear-drive.

BMW 6-SERIES GT Don’t get fooled by the badge. The 6-series GT is essentially an enlarged hatchback version of today’s 5-series saloon to conform with the brand’s latest badging policy. A range of petrol and diesel engines powers the 6-series GT.

JAGUAR E-PACE After launching the F-Pace last year, Jaguar quickly takes the wraps off its second SUV. Rivalling the likes of the BMW X1, the E-Pace comes with a range of four-pot petrol and diesel engines but ditches the brand’s aluminium body tech.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SVX Off-road specialist has premiered an extreme version of its go-anywhere Discovery featuring 525hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8, higher ground clearance, more wheel articulation and larger Goodyear Wrangler tyres.

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM Billed as the world’s most expensive and opulent limo, the Phantom gets completely redesigned although changes to the exterior and interior would only be noted by fans. Super-hush cabin is said to be one USP.