Top 15 new models due in 2023

2023 is shaping up to be one hell of a year for new car buyers, with some tantalising new models set to make their Australian debuts and market introductions.

We use the term tantalising in both the traditional sense, when it comes to drool-inducing exotics and performance machines, as well in terms of industry significance given the number of genuinely interesting vehicles that could become game-changers in their segments and the wider market.

Electrification may well be taking flight in Australia, but this market is nowhere near done with internal combustion vehicles and likely won’t be for long time yet.

So with this in mind, we’ve grouped together 15 of what we believe to be the most significant new combustion models arriving Down Under next year.

These are in no particular order and you can find our list of new electric vehicles to watch out for in 20223 here.

Developed in tandem with the latest Ford Ranger, the all-new 2023 Volkswagen Amarok has Australian fingerprints all over it and will arrive Down Under in the second quarter of next year as a ‘more premium’ alternative to the Ranger.

While it will offer the same line-up of four- and six-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, the new VW Amarok will have an ace up its sleeve in the form of a Mustang-derived 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (222kW/452Nm), plus longer standard equipment lists than corresponding Ranger variants.

Finer details of these kit lists are yet to be finalised, but the extra gear will undoubtedly have an impact on the Amarok’s asking price.

Read more on the Volkswagen Amarok

The new seventh-generation 2023 Ford Mustang will arrive in Australia sometime in the second half of the year and the range will be crowned by a dramatic new Dark Horse variant.

Despite being marketed as a new-generation pony car, the S650-series Mustang rides on the same rear-drive platform as its predecessor, but it will bring heavily updated powertrains – once again comprising a force-fed 2.3-litre four-cylinder and a free-breathing 5.0-litre V8.

The new model’s sharp new styling and gruntier powertrains are complemented by a fitting step forward in cabin technology and a completely revised chassis featuring a new steering rack and new suspension mountings, linkages, spring rates and damper tuning.

Read more on the Ford Mustang

Toyota set the hot hatch world on fire when it launched the GR Yaris and now it’s gearing up to do it again with the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla – a larger five-door speed machine with the same turbo triple but now packing 221kW/370Nm.

Just 500 examples of the GR Corolla have been confirmed for Australia so far and if the hot Yaris was anything to go by, demand will be astronomical.

Our initial sampling of the first fast Corolla in decades was extremely promising, so much so that in isolation at least we touted it as being arguably the new benchmark for mainstream hot hatches.

Time will tell for sure, and we can’t wait to put it up against some of the established heroes… not to mention the new Honda Civic Type R.

Read more on the Toyota GR Corolla

The 2023 Mazda CX-60 is the first model to appear from the Japanese brand’s new-generation inline-six, rear/all-wheel drive ‘large product’ portfolio and, as we’ve covered extensively, it rewrites a lot of the mainstream SUV rules.

Riding atop an all-new platform powered by longitudinal engines, the all-wheel drive CX-60 will come from a pair of turbocharged mild-hybrid 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder engines – one petrol, one diesel – and a brand-first 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Slightly bigger than the existing Mazda CX-5, the CX-60 will occupy a more premium position within the mainstream medium SUV segment and attempt to muscle in on the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70’s turf, albeit with what should be a lower starting price when deliveries begin in June.

Read more on the Mazda CX-60

RAM 1500 sales have been booming since the big American pick-up officially launched here a few years back, while demand for GMSV’s locally converted Chevrolet Silverado 1500 also remains strong, so it was almost a no-brainer for the Blue Oval to confirm a ‘remanufactured’ Ford F-150 for our market.

Set to be converted to right-hand drive in Melbourne – just like its arch-rivals from Stellantis and General Motors – Ford Australia’s F-150s be powered exclusively by a twin-turbo 3.5-litre petrol V6 good for 298kW/678Nm.

So there’s no V8 but more torque than both of its full-size pick-up rivals (for now), and two grades will be available from mid-2023.

Read more on the Ford F-150

Aussies can’t get enough of premium hero utes, with Ford and Nissan barely able to keep up with demand for their Ranger Raptor and Navara Warrior flagships, and no doubt that’s prompted Toyota Australia to pull its finger out and finally deliver a proper HiLux tough-truck.

Just such a thing will arrive in the second half of next year in the form of the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport, a belated replacement for the discontinued Rugged X based on the new wide-track Rogue, which rivals tarted-up but no-more-capable offerings from Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi and LDV.

Details are thin on the ground for the time being, but the GR Sport is anticipated to be taller, wider and more powerful than any other HiLux variant, with extra capability ensured by bespoke suspension and all-terrain tyres at a bare minimum.

Read more on the Toyota HiLux GR Sport

The 2023 BMW M2 is the baby of the full-fat BMW M range but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the tamest or friendliest. Indeed the small coupe packs 338kW/550Nm courtesy of its twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder petrol engine.

Despite being rear-wheel drive, 0-100km/h acceleration is dispatched in just 4.1 seconds and BMW Australia is promising locally delivered versions will be jam-packed with equipment – and the option of a manual transmission alongside the auto.

More on the BMW M2

Ferrari has never made an SUV before now and the Prancing Horse says the Purosangue will account for a maximum of 20 per cent of its global sales, guaranteeing huge demand and long waiting lists.

Lurking under the 2023 Ferrari Purosangue’s elongated bonnet is a naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre V12 developing an enormous 533kW/716Nm, sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-cutch transmission.

The immense firepower and all-paw grip yields a 3.3sec 0-100km/h time, despite the whole package weighing more than two tonnes dry. First examples are due here in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Read more on the Ferrari Purosangue

The new-generation 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S is the first of its lineage to not be offered with a monstrous petrol V8 but instead an even more monstrous four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Tipped to cost around $220,000 when it arrives here in the first half of 2023, the new C 63 S E Performance is good for a BMW M5-busting 500kW/1020Nm when the force-fed petrol engine and electric motors are combined, with AMG promising a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds.

Aussies will only have access to the sedan version (no wagon) and the C-Class Coupe is being replaced by the marginally bigger Mercedes-Benz CLE.

Read more on the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance

The 2023 BMW XM is only the second-ever bespoke BMW M-car and the Bavarian brand’s take on the booming hyper-SUV segment, in which it will rub shoulders with the aforementioned Ferrari Purosangue, Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX707.

It’s powered by a new-generation twin-turb 4.4-litre V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain developing up to 550kW/1000Nm in its most potent Label Red guise, and is claimed to stop the 0-100km/h clock in less than four seconds.

The ‘standard’ 480kW/850Nm XM does it in a claimed 4.3sec and will cost $297,900 when it arrives in the first half of this year.

Read more on the BMW XM

We’ve been waiting a while for the new Maserati GranTurismo to emerge and it seems the wait was worth it, judging by its stunning looks and newfound performance.

Petrol-powered Modena and Trofeo variants are on track to arrive Down Under in the final quarter of 2023, armed with new twin-turbo V6 engines, all-wheel drive and supercar-scaring performance in the case of the latter.

The 410kW/650NmTrofeo will dispatch the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 3.5sec and push on to 320km/h on the right stretch of derestricted road or track, while the lesser Modena packs 365kW/600Nm and stops the clock in 3.9sec.

Read more on the Maserati GranTurismo

An all-new model is coming from Honda this year, and it will be called the 2023 Honda ZR-V.

Pitched at the super-popular Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage, the ZR-V will fill the size and price gap between the box-fresh Honda HR-V and the inbound new-generation Honda CR-V, which will push upmarket in its latest iteration.

Petrol and hybrid powertrains will be offered as per the platform-sharing Civic hatch, including Honda’s innovative e:HEV electric drive system in which the combustion engine is little more than a generator for the small-capacity battery.

Read more on the Honda ZR-V

The 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale is the iconic Italian brand’s first attempt at electrification and is being offered globally in petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms.

At this stage Australia is only getting the 118kW/240Nm self-charging hybrid powertrain, which comprises a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, 15kW electric motor and a tiny 0.8kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

First examples are due here in February, offering combined fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km, but the much gutsier and theoretically more frugal PHEV versions are also under study for out market.

Read more on the Alfa Romeo Tonale

The Subaru XV nameplate is dead in Australia, where the Japanese brand’s third-generation compact SUV will adopt the global Crosstrek name.

Riding on an updated version of the Subaru Global Platform and donning a sharpened but familiar look, the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek will be offered in four guises from launch, including two carryover powertrains and two book-ending model grades – L and S.

While its petrol and hybrid hearts might be the same, Subaru is promising improved ride comfort and dynamics, plus more sophistication and better refinement from the new Crosstrek, which will hit showrooms in the first half of this year.

Read more on the Subaru Crosstrek

The 2023 Maserati Grecale is the trident brand’s first mid-size SUV and conceived to be a smaller stablemate to the established Levante, but still won’t be cheap with a starting price of $109,500.

Three powertrains and three trim levels will be on offer when first deliveries take place in the first quarter of 2023, including the 221kW/450Nm GT, 242kW/450Nm Modena and 390kW/620Nm Trofeo.

The former two are powered by a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo-petrol set-up, whereas the flagship boasts the same force-fed 3.0-litre V6 as the GranTurismo coupe and Maserati MC20 supercar, albeit detuned.

Read more on the Maserati Grecale