The hot new cars set to arrive from 2023

There are already plenty of cars to be excited about in 2022, but manufacturers work years ahead so we already know what to expect in the next few years to come.

As to be expected, electric cars make up a large chunk of this list, with a number of brands looking to expand their EV offerings such as Hyundai with their Ioniq lineup and Renault with two new homage models to iconic models of yesteryear. If you’re strictly a petrolhead, though, don’t worry as there’s a Cosworth V8 in the mix, too, thanks to TVR.

SUVs are also plentiful, with a new Jeep set to enter the market in 2025 and SsangYong taking what appears to be a new direction with bigger and bolder styling.

Alfa Romeo Giulia EV

• On sale: 2025

The next-generation Giulia has some big shoes to fill, because the current car is one of the most desirable compact execs available. Yet Alfa is going bold for its replacement, with an all-electric saloon to rival models such as the Tesla Model 3.

Based on the forthcoming STLA Large EV platform with an 800V architecture, the Giulia promises a range of around 800km and up to 80 per cent charge in as little as 20 minutes. A twin-motor, four-wheel-drive Quadrifoglio version could deliver as much as 650kW and blast from 0-100km/h in less than 2.0 seconds. Factor in sleek looks and engaging driving dynamics and it will be a shock if this Alfa isn’t a class contender.

Alfa Romeo Baby e-SUV

• On sale: 2023

Alfa Romeo’s range of new SUVs will include a small all-electric model.  This new car hasn’t yet been made official, but being part of Stellantis gives Alfa access to the technology behind the Peugeot e-2008, meaning the new small electric SUV could come to market relatively quickly – as soon as 2023. Stellantis’s technology means the car is likely to have a 50kWh battery pack and a range of about 320km on a single charge, although it’s possible that by 2023 battery tech will have advanced further for an increased range.

The Alfa Romeo SUV will be more upmarket than the Peugeot, with a price tag to suit, but it should attract customers with its striking looks and the promise of reliability from the proven powertrain.

Alpine R5

• On sale: 2025

French sports car brand Alpine is set to make all of its vehicles electric by the middle of the decade, and its forthcoming range will include a hot version of the Renault 5 electric hatch.

Retro-inspired looks are likely to follow from the Renault version, but the Alpine model will be much more focused on performance, offering up 160kW.

Expect handling tweaks to make it feel like a true hot hatch, plus a range of around 320km on a charge, because it will be based on Renault’s advanced CMF-BEV platform for small electric cars. Details are scarce at this point, but our exclusive image shows how the sporty hatch could look, with details inspired by rally cars and hot hatches of the past.

Aston Martin Valhalla

• On sale: 2023

It’s fitting that the Aston Martin Valhalla should have such a dramatic name – after all, it’s a 700kW mid-engined supercar that rivals the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.

It’s also a plug-in hybrid, and uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that develops 552kW, plus a pair of electric motors that add a further 150kW combined. There’s a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox to manage all that power in addition to a limited-slip differential.

Torque is similarly impressive, at 1000Nm, allowing a 0-100km/h time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 349km/h. At 1550kg, it’s light, too. Aston Martin says it’s a track-biased model, but it will still feature creature comforts and be usable on the road – for those who can afford it.

Audi A6 e-tron

• On sale: 2023

Another model that will use the Volkswagen Group’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) set-up is the next A6 e-tron, which was previewed by a concept car at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show.

That futuristic-looking machine will inform the design of a new saloon car that will arrive after the Q6 e-tron. It’s likely to retain its own identity, so this electric version of the A6 will look distinct from the rest of the executive car line-up.

Expect a 100kW battery and a range of 552km on a single charge and thanks to the 800-volt architecture, it’ll be able to charge from 5-80 per cent in 25 minutes.

BMW 5 Series

• On sale: 2023

The next BMW 5 Series has been spotted during testing, and is likely to be available with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, although the latter will most likely be badged i5, as BMW has already done with its i4 model.

There’s not much to go on for now, but we expect the new 5 Series to be more conservative in its look compared with other recent BMWs. There’s no sign of the huge grille seen on the latest 4 Series, and the rest of the bodywork looks as sensible as you’d expect of the straight-laced 5 Series.

We expect it to use an updated version of the current car’s platform. The plug-in hybrid 530e model is likely to receive an upgrade, with newer battery technology to give an increased electric range.

Cupra Tavascan

• On sale: 2024

Cupra’s Tavascan will be an MEB-based flagship coupé-SUV, so will share parts with the VW ID.4 as well as Cupra’s Born EV.

It will use the most potent drivetrain available on the MEB platform: a 77kWh battery and two electric motors with a total of 224kW. This means it should be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds and will have a range of around 500km. Rapid charging will allow a 10-80 per cent charge in half an hour or so.

The Tavascan has dramatic looks, mixing the eye-catching design of a sporty coupé with the everyday practicality of an SUV.

Cupra Urban EV

• On sale: 2025

The Cupra UrbanRebel concept car might look dramatic, with its huge wing and race-inspired bodywork, but it actually previews a new small electric car due in 2025.

It was previously unclear if the car would be a SEAT or a Cupra, but the concept car’s arrival confirms that it will be the latter. Look beyond the dramatic styling elements and you can see the basic shape of the car, including the wraparound windscreen and a “floating” roof, plus short overhangs at the front and rear.

The car will sit on a new platform called MEB Entry, which will pave the way for more affordable EVs around the £20,000 (AUD$35,000) mark. This platform will then allow other brands such as Skoda to launch their own small electric cars.

Honda Electric SUV

• On sale: 2023

The Honda e will be joined by an SUV sister model in 2023, and while firm details are hard to pin down, it’ll likely be similar to the SUV:e concept car shown at the 2020 Beijing Motor Show.

As such, the new SUV is likely to be larger than the Jazz supermini but smaller than the HR-V, and because it will likely use the same platform as the Honda e electric car, it’ll have a similar feel inside, which we reckon can only be a good thing.

This also means we can expect it to have a modest range figure, although a larger battery pack could provide the car with a range of more than 320km and offer rapid charging for easy top-ups.  The new SUV forms part of Honda’s plan to have a fully electrified range by next year.

Hyundai Ioniq 7

• On sale: 2024

The Ioniq range will be filled out even further by Hyundai in the coming years with the Ioniq 7, a large SUV with seven seats. It’s likely to be larger than the Santa Fe and will use the same E-GMP platform as the other Ioniq models, which will result in plenty of range. Larger batteries than the Ioniq 5 could mean up to 600km is expected, and rapid charging at 350kW will allow fast top-ups, too. Wireless charging could be possible for this flagship model too, although that’s dependent on the advancement of the tech.

Inside, the Ioniq 7 is likely to have lounge-style styling similar to the other Ioniq models and offer plenty of space for passengers, thanks to the design freedom allowed by the EV platform.

Jeep small SUV

• On sale: 2025

Jeep is planning a small, all-electric SUV that will sit below the Renegade in the American brand’s line-up.

The new model has been made possible using the CMP platform shared with some Peugeot and Vauxhall superminis, although that may prevent it from offering four-wheel drive, usually a Jeep staple.

This means it could instead use the STLA platform from Stellantis, which features space for electric motors on both axles. However, this platform is still in development, and may push the car’s launch to after 2025.

Kia EV4

• On sale: 2023

Kia’s electric car range is expanding fast and the new EV4 will join the range in 2023. This is a family SUV that will be a similar size to the Mercedes EQA, and it will use tech from the already-revealed EV6 model. It could share some styling similarities too, because it will be based on the same E-GMP platform.

This means it should be able to offer 58kWh and 77kWh battery options with a range of over 500km on a charge. There should also be the option of two- or four-wheel drive and a range of power outputs, potentially up to 240kW in the top version. Plus 350kW rapid charging will mean you can top up from 10-80 per cent in around 20 minutes.

Kia Niro

• On sale: 2023

There’s a new version of the Kia Niro on the way, and it should be available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric power, just like the current model.  The styling will undergo an overhaul, although we expect the Niro to retain its overall proportions and position in the market as a small family SUV. It’s likely to feature the same body cladding and crossover styling as the current version, and our spy shots appear to confirm this. The headlights sit lower than the current car’s, the rear doors will feature quarterlight windows, and the tail-lights will sit vertically up each side of the tailgate.

Expect to see improved electric tech, though, including quicker rapid charging and a much longer battery range.

Mercedes-Benz CLE

• On sale: 2023

In a similar way to how BMW split the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible off into the 4 Series range, Mercedes will rebrand its next generation of C-Class Coupé and Convertible as CLE. The CLE will use Mercedes’ MRA-2 platform, which means it’s likely that four- and six-cylinder engines, and rear-wheel drive, will be available, with four-wheel drive as an option.

However, we don’t expect to see a four-door coupé in the range, so it’s likely that the CLE will be available in two-door form only, with or without a hard-top. It’ll remain as a four-seater, though.

The name change to CLE has been brought about by Mercedes’ desire to reduce the complexity of its range; the new name should help buyers to distinguish these models.

MINI Countryman

• On sale: 2023

A new version of the MINI Countryman is coming and it will likely grow in size in the pursuit of more interior space.

Head of MINI Bernd Körber told us in 2020 that the next Countryman model will be like a BMW X1 in size, growing by half a segment, but it will retain the proportions that buyers know and love. The new car will also be available with petrol and diesel engines, although a plug-in hybrid is unlikely; thanks to advances in tech, it should have enough range for there to be no need for a PHEV model in the range.

It’s possible that the new model will be built at the brand’s plant in Oxford, but this is still to be confirmed.

MINI Crossover

• On sale: 2024

MINI is about to give its Countryman a bit of a growth spurt, which leaves room for a new smaller MINI crossover to sit below it in the brand’s range.

The new car will be an all-electric model, which will allow MINI to grow its customer base in this crucial area of the market. It will use the same new EV platform as the forthcoming version of the MINI hatch, which is being co-developed by MINI and Chinese maker Great Wall.

We expect the new crossover to have retro-inspired styling with traditional MINI design features including the classic lights and a rounded glasshouse with a high shoulder line. It will take on models such as the Peugeot e-2008, and is likely to have a range of around 320km on a charge.

MINI Hatch Electric

• On sale: 2023

The next-generation MINI hatchback is scheduled to go on sale in 2023, and the choice of powertrains is likely to include pure-electric and petrol.

This means the MINI will take on the new Peugeot 208 and e-208 directly, and it’ll do so with a new platform designed for the car. It will also be built in Oxford, UK and it’s likely that the first models will be three-door cars, followed by a five-door version for a bit more practicality.

Spy shots show that the car will have a fresh look, with a more angled windscreen than before and a new infotainment set-up that incorporates the instruments. A rapid JCW model will appear further down the line, although it’s currently unclear if it’ll be electric or petrol-powered.

Porsche Macan EV

• On sale: 2023

The next version of the Porsche Macan SUV will be all-electric, riding on a new VW Group architecture called Premium Platform Electric (PPE).

It’s set to be a sporty rival for the Jaguar I-Pace and will feature next-generation tech, including 800-volt charging. No specs have been revealed yet, but you can expect it to offer a range of at least 500km, and rapid charging that can take it from 10-80 per cent in less than half an hour.

It will get a new look inspired by the Taycan EV, plus more coupe-like styling. Conventional petrol-powered models based on an older platform will be sold alongside the EV for a while, with Porsche saying the length of time it will sell both petrol and electric SUVs depends on global demand.

Renault 4

• On sale: 2023

Renault is planning a small retro revival with two historically named new models set to join the range.

The classic 4 and 5 models were instrumental in making Renault the company it is today and it will pay homage to them with new models that carry the torch with all-electric power. The 4 will be the more practical of the two, potentially with a crossover-style body featuring a bigger boot and a slightly raised-up look.

Retro touches will be the car’s signature, but it will use cutting-edge electric-car tech shared with other Renault models including the Zoe. This should mean a range of up to 400km and a 100kW electric motor. It’ll come as part of a push from the car maker to launch 10 new EVs by 2025.

Renault 5

• On sale: 2023

Renault showed off the 5 Prototype concept car recently, and the good news is that the car isn’t just a pipe dream. It’s set for production and it will compete with retro-inspired small cars like the Honda e and MINI Electric when it arrives in 2023.

It’s possible the car could cost from less than £20,000 (AUD$35,000), and will feature retro looks inspired by the original 5, riding on the new CMF-BEV platform to keep costs down and achieve that low entry price.

Renault boss Luca de Meo has indicated that the new model will stay true to the 5’s heritage as an affordable small car. We can’t wait to see if the production version can retain the looks of the concept.

SsangYong X200

• On sale: 2023

SUV specialist SsangYong is readying a brace of new models, including this rugged-looking X200, although we expect a new name before it hits production in 2023.

A concept sketch shows the car to be a tough-looking off-roader with a Jeep Renegade-like look, thanks to its boxy styling and vertical grille slats with round headlights on either side. In addition, chunky wheelarches, knobbly tyres and surfboards on the roof all show that SsangYong wants the model to step away from the rest of its cars’ more sober designs, although the X200 is clearly just a concept at this stage.  A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol is on the cards, although an electrified variant is also quite likely – probably a pure-EV variant.

TVR Griffith

• On sale: TBC

TVR has never been known for its stability, and while its most recent revival appears to have stalled, there’s still hope that the new Griffith will hit the road soon. The last bit of news to come out of TVR was that it had secured a Coronavirus business interruption loan, but that it needed more funding for its new premises in the UK’s Welsh Ebbw Valley. Extensive refurbishments were apparently needed there.

We look forward to driving the Griffith, a British sports car in the vein of the original Griffith with a 5.0-litre Cosworth V8 petrol engine, low kerbweight and more than 370kW. It looks as dramatic as the older TVR models we love, too.

Volkswagen ID Buzz

• On sale: 2025

Volkswagen has always been known for its Transporter and camper vans, and it will push them into a new era with the ID.Buzz, which is an all-electric version.

The company recently showed off an autonomous version that could go into service as a taxi in 2025. We expect the van version to arrive before then, though; the concept simply gives us a look at the new model. It certainly shares a family resemblance with the other ID models, but it’s significantly longer and taller.

It’s still based on the same MEB platform, which means it should have a range of battery options from 48kWh to 111kWh. As a result, it could have a range of up to 550km, and feature a few different motor layouts, including a version with 220kW.

Volkswagen ID. Life

• On sale: 2025

Volkswagen used this year’s Munich Motor Show to reveal an EV concept called the ID. Life, which previews a supermini-sized electric car that will appear in 2025.

The VW Polo-sized concept was hailed as a “VW for a young generation” by CEO Ralf Brandstatter. It has chunky, crossover styling and is powered by a 160kW electric motor that also produces 290Nm of torque, while the battery capacity is 54kWh. This should give the car a range of around 400km, although VW might reduce battery size in the drive to keep down the car’s price to around the $35,000 mark. Some innovative materials have been used in the ID. Life, such as a roof and bonnet made of an air-filled fabric that zips to the car’s structure.

Volvo XC20

• On sale: 2023

A new model will join the Volvo range after the next XC90, and it will be a small electric SUV that will be built in China.

We’re calling it the XC20 for now, but Volvo boss Håkan Samuelsson has said the car will get a real name, one that isn’t just numbers and letters. He said that a move away from Volvo’s numbers-and-letters format would signal the firm’s all-electric “new beginning”. However, while that name is under wraps, the design has been teased through a top-down image, and our renderings show how the model, which will sit below the XC40, might look.

Expect a resemblance to the XC40 because it will likely use a similar set of parts in its construction, although it won’t offer the kind of performance that the electric P8 version of the XC40 has; it’ll be detuned and more affordable.