Blissful New 12 months!
It’s a brand new 12 months, and there’s an enormous slate of latest automobiles on the horizon. For a full breakdown on all the brand new vehicles launching in Australia and when, click here.
There’s quite a bit to look ahead to in 2024. The next are the automobiles the CarExpert editorial workforce is most excited for in 2024.
Anthony Crawford: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
If ever there was a automotive with potential game-changer standing proper from the get-go, its Hyundai’s first ever crack at a efficiency EV – the Ioniq 5 N.
It’s a crossover with all-wheel drive, 478kW of energy on increase and a prime pace of 260km/h. Oh, and it might speed up from zero to 100km/h in simply 3.4 seconds. It’s additionally filled with cutting-edge tech.
BMW’s former Mr ‘M’, Albert Biermann, was the person that successfully led the cost for Hyundai’s N efficiency division and in simply seven years he’s created a number of the greatest efficiency machines of their segments with ready-to-track functionality straight out of the field.
He and his groups have been engaged on the Ioniq 5 N for years and even earlier than it launches and after CarExpert has pushed pre-production fashions, it’s already being hailed as an engineering triumph and able to issues different costlier EVs of its measurement can’t do.
It’s obtained an 84kWh battery and may go flat-out round across the Nordschleife (20.8km) – twice – with out de-rating or dropping any energy.
Within the efficiency EV world that alone is extraordinary and testomony to some very strong electrical engineering. It gained’t price you $200,000 and even $150,000 – yours for simply $120,124 drive-away in Altas White Matte with Obsidian Black Leather-based inside.
Additionally value severe point out is the MG Cyberster EV roadster and the Volkswagen ID. Buzz – a reincarnated EV Kombi for the right here and now.
Paul Maric: BMW M5
The final hurrah for inner combustion. As extra manufacturers transfer to electrification, I’m excited to see how they see out their internal-combustion flagships. One on prime of that checklist is the brand new BMW M5. I’m eager to see what BMW does with it and the way it sends it off.
Likewise the Audi RS6. It’ll be the final time it options inner combustion so let’s see how they ship it off.
Scott Collie: Porsche Macan EV
There’s quite a bit driving on the electrical Porsche Macan.
The petrol Macan is the best-selling Porsche worldwide, and stays probably the greatest mid-sized SUVs to drive after two facelifts and greater than 10 years on sale.
The stakes are excessive for Porsche with its electrical alternative, which has suffered a difficult beginning because of troubles throughout the Volkswagen Group’s software program subsidiary Cariad. When it does lastly arrive, it’ll want to instantly decide up the mantle from the petrol mannequin in Australia; manufacturing of the present automotive is ending within the third quarter of 2024 to make approach for the electrical mannequin.
Porsche not often misses, however it’s going to be fascinating to get behind the wheel of what must turn into a pillar of its plan to go electrical.
Jade Credentino: Extra competitively priced EVs
Whereas the world appears to suppose the way in which ahead is electrical vehicles, manufacturers have gotten extra artistic with their applied sciences and distinctive designs to have the ability to stand out.
One clear indicator of EV adoption is the entry to “reasonably priced” electrical automobiles. The Chinese language manufacturers have traditionally been in a position to present cheaper options to the likes of Polestar, Hyundai, and Ford.
The EV area is thrilling and can proceed to become the long run as know-how advances. What we see now’s just the start.
Jack Fast: Lexus GX
I’ve been following the Lexus GX’s journey to Australian showrooms fairly carefully for some time now and hopefully we don’t have to attend an excessive amount of longer. It’s due within the first of 2024.
Certain the new-generation Toyota Prado, which is predicated on the identical TNGA-F structure, will doubtless have extra gross sales quantity than the GX, however it’s the Lexus’ engine that has me most excited.
As a substitute of the mild-hybrid 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel the brand new Prado will obtain in Australia at launch, the Lexus GX is about to be powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine.
Within the US this twin-turbo V6 petrol engine produces 260kW of energy and a stonking 650Nm of torque. I can think about this going to be fairly a beast that I look ahead to having a spin of on native roads.
William Stopford: Cadillac Lyriq
I’ve been ready so rattling lengthy for Cadillac to come back right here.
I don’t know the place my appreciation of the model first began. My earliest reminiscence of a Cadillac is tossing round an Eldorado ETC in Midtown Insanity 2 as a child, however I grew to become keenly within the model when it began rolling out boldly styled, rear-wheel drive sports activities sedans within the early 2000s.
Everybody appears to have a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, in any case, and people manufacturers are enormously profitable – and for good purpose.
However the contrarian in me needs to see others get a much bigger slice of the posh automotive market – I imply, I do drive a Hyundai Genesis, in any case – and with vehicles just like the CTS, STS and ATS, Cadillac was gunning proper for Germans just like the BMW 3 Collection and 5 Collection.
It was the second-generation CTS that was supposed to steer Cadillac’s return to Australia over a decade in the past, till the World Monetary Disaster and guardian firm Basic Motors’ travails noticed these plans scuttled on the eleventh hour. I’d nearly given up on ever seeing Cadillac come right here, watching as fascinating automobile after fascinating automobile just like the CT5 and CT6 had been revealed however by no means got here right here. (To be truthful, Cadillac has additionally provided loads of common automobiles over the previous twenty years, too.)
After I noticed trademark filings and right-hand drive spy pictures, although, it began to look actual. Now, Cadillac has confirmed it’s coming right here. It seems just like the Lyriq will spearhead a variety of electrical SUVs at first – no rear-wheel drive, petrol-powered sports activities sedans, sadly, the type of automobiles that basically exhibit the abilities of GM’s chassis engineers and designers.
Nonetheless, the Lyriq is a horny bundle (um, have you ever seen a number of the ugly German electrical SUVs on the market?) and I’m curious how severely GM will take Cadillac’s Australian push. It’s no secret GM has been inconsistent with the way it has let Cadillac be run, with numerous strategic and management shifts through the years that serve solely to knee-cap it.
There’s additionally loads of animosity in direction of GM right here after it shuttered Holden. I don’t know why I nonetheless have a keenness for the corporate, given I favored Oldsmobiles and GM shut that model down, then I favored Pontiacs and GM shut that down too, after which it killed Holden.
My first automotive was a GM product so maybe that explains my fondness, however I gained’t take a look at the Lyriq all misty-eyed – let me get behind the wheel and decide it on its advantage.
There are another automobiles I’m excited for. I’m curious if the MG Cyberster will probably be as enjoyable to drive because it seems, and if the Ford Puma EV will probably be as dynamically satisfying because the petrol-powered mannequin. The Lexus GX is lastly coming right here and the brand new era seems correctly good, and from an business observer perspective I’m very curious how BYD’s first Australian foray with each utes and plug-in hybrids go.
James Wong: VW Group MEB-based electrical automobiles
I’ve been masking them for years, they’ve been delayed for Australia quite a few instances. Lastly, 2024 looks like the 12 months of VW’s electrified onslaught.
The automobiles get fairly good critiques abroad, largely, and if the model comes by with the provision ranges its promising they need to turn into a comparatively widespread sight on our roads.
I simply need extra competitors within the EV area from mainstream manufacturers, which ought to assist stabilise costs and provides customers extra selection past Chinese language manufacturers and Tesla. Hopefully that occurs for us subsequent 12 months.