In politics, the much-vaunted turning point may still be a long time coming, depending on one’s perspective. But things are different on the road: The horsepower industry is in the midst of change and will fuel it in the new year with numerous new models and even a few new brands. If you take all the official announcements, the many indiscretions and the knowledge of the manufacturer’s model cycles together, there are over 100 entries for the novelty plan. We have compiled the most important of them here.
The vast majority of new products now have a plug. But of all things, the probably most prominent premieres are still built for the fuel pump. Because the first dance at the Debutante Ball in 2023 will be three cars that have been at the top of the registration statistics for decades:
Mercedes promises a new edition of the E-Class as a sedan and station wagon and later also as a coupé and convertible. And at VW, the successors to the Passat and Tiguan are in the starting blocks. And even if all three models will of course be available as plug-in hybrids, some with an electric range of more than 100 kilometers, they all come from the “old world”.
Big novelties with electric alternatives
The “new world” of Generation E will counter with a few “big shots” – sometimes even from the same ranks: Because VW is providing the new Passat with the ID.7 in the style of the Aero study as an electric alternative.
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The crowd’s favorite off-roader: Mercedes EQE SUV
Photo: Mercedes-Benz AG / dpa-tmn
With the EQE SUV, Mercedes brings the fourth electric luxury class model. And at bmw are once again open to technology with the premiere of the next five. Because the Bavarians are again building combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and purely electric versions on the same platform and with the same design.
Small offers with great variety
In the small car segment, deliveries of the new Smart #1, which has now matured into a handy SUV, begin. Fiat offshoot Abarth takes on the 500, Citroën is preparing to launch a new C3, and Mitsubishi will Renault Capture to ASX. While Mini is still waiting for the new generation of its electric car, the Chinese cooperation partner Great Wall Motors is sending the same platform with a different design into the race as the Ora Funky Cat.
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French electric car: Citroën ë-C4 X
Photo: Citroën / dpa-tmn
Something is also moving in the class above this – even if the most important models get an update at best, such as the VW ID.3 or other engine variants such as the Opel Astra, which is now also becoming a Stromer. But off France pushing in at the top end of the Golf class Germany only electrically available Citroën ë-C4 X and the Peugeot 408 on the market, the latter also electrically in the medium term.
Off into the terrain: SUV with exhaust and plug
Anyone who has committed themselves to the SUV in this segment has many more premieres to choose from: Off Japan come with the bZ4X, the first all-electric Toyota and from Honda a new C-RV, the handy crossover Z-RV and the all-electric e:Ny1.
The new BMW X2 and two are running from Germany ford-Models based on VW’s electric platform MEB warm. Hyundai is riding the SUV wave with the next Kona. Jeep is the first pure Stromer to send the Avenger into the race.
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Powered off-roaders: Avenger by Jeep
Photo: Alberto Giorgio Alquati / dpa-tmn
China expands the SUV selection with the Aiways U6 Coupé and Renault is launching the Austral, which will then be available in a long version at the end of the year as the successor to the Scénic.
Vans and the upper middle class
Classic vans, on the other hand, are only getting a few offspring – only the Mercedes EQT and Nissan’s electric Townstar at the beginning of the year and the long version of the ID. Buzz and the Ford Tourneo Connect at the end of the year are flying the astronaut flag.
Otherwise, in the upper middle class, the focus is on the successors of the Skoda top models Kodiaq and Superb, on the newcomers Nio EL7 and ET5, the Stromer from BYD as well as the upcoming Mazda flagship CX-80.
At the charging station you will also encounter the streamlined sedan Hyundai Ioniq 6 for the first time, the also fully electric large-capacity SUV EV9 from Kia, the large Volvo EX90 and its sporty cousin Polestar 3 as well as the RZ 450e, with which Lexus is now turning completely to electromobility .
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Streamlined sedan: Hyundai Ioniq 6
Photo: Hyundai / dpa-tmn
And the Seat offshoot Cupra is also growing and is providing the handy Born with a large electric SUV, the Tavascan. Not premium enough? Then start at Audi at the end of the year with the Q6 e-tron the first electric model on the new electric architecture, the so-called PPE platform.
Most powerful BMW and electric Rolls-Royce to date
BMW lures petrolheads with the XM (up to 748 hp) with the most powerful production model in factory history and Rolls-Royce climate-conscious super-rich with the electric Spectre. Mercedes is offering the first electric Maybach version of the EQS SUV. Maserati is electrifying its SUV Grecale.
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Up to 748 HP in surge: BMW XM
Photo: Enes Kucevic / dpa-tmn
And if buyers prefer to wear adventure clothes rather than suits, a few US originals are recommended. In addition to the new Mustang, Ford is also bringing the legendary Bronco into the country for the first time, and Jeep is bringing the small Recon and the large Wagoneer. On the border between lifestyle and loading ramp, the Ford Ranger and the VW Amarok derived from it want to roll up the pick-up segment again.
sports car from the south
Anyone who misses sportiness with all the electricity and dirt should take a look south: A short distance away is Stuttgart, where a new AMG GT is doing its final test laps at Mercedes. Porsche In addition to a new edition of the Panamera, is also planning numerous model and engine variants for its 911 and 718 sports cars.
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A little further south, BMW is unleashing a new M2. And in the long run you end up in Emilia-Romagna. Lamborghini is already producing the first examples of the Aventador successor as a super sports car there. And Ferrari is now building its first SUV, the Purosangue, the last luxury manufacturer to do so.