Pleased new yr!
We publish a ton of automobile information tales throughout the working week (70-odd as a rule), and it may be powerful to maintain up with the whole lot – which is the rationale behind this weekend checklist.
Briefly, listed here are some key articles from our information desk since Monday of this week summarised, simply in case you missed them on the time.
Outcomes are in!
New car gross sales grew 3.0 per cent in 2022 regardless of extensively publicised provide points, ending up at round 1.08 million models for the calendar yr.
Annual gross sales knowledge (VFACTS) exhibits that 1,081,429 new vehicles, SUVs and business autos have been delivered in 2022, making it one of the best end result since 2018 when 1,153,111 autos have been offered.
Business-wide gross sales for December 2022 jumped 12.1 per cent, giving the market some momentum heading into the brand new calendar yr.
MORE: Australia’s new automobile gross sales outcomes for 2022
Japanese icons crew up on EVs
Two of Japan’s industrial giants are engaged on a brand new EV joint-venture firm, with the prototype seen right here set for a 2025 launch.
The joint-venture between Sony and Honda to make electrical vehicles shall be branded Afeela, the businesses introduced on the CES tech present in Las Vegas.
The primary Afeela EV from Sony Honda Mobility Inc. shall be a glossy sedan, considerably paying homage to a Hyundai Ioniq 6 or Tesla Mannequin 3, with a focused 2025 begin of manufacturing.
MORE: Sony Honda Mobility’s EV model to be known as Afeela
Toyota to sort out Ranger Raptor… kind of
Toyota has revealed its tougher-looking and extra highly effective flagship HiLux, due right here this yr.
The Toyota HiLux GR Sport has what the model calls a Dakar-inspired design, and would be the strongest diesel HiLux it has ever provided regionally.
The corporate says it expects the dual-cab GR Sport to reach within the second half of 2023. Pricing has but to be revealed, however will virtually actually be above the $70,200 earlier than on-roads sticker of the present Rogue range-topper.
MORE: 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport revealed for Australia
Santa Fe’s new type
A a lot brasher and all-new Hyundai Santa Fe seven-seat giant SUV will launch this yr, however in all probability received’t make it to Australia till 2024.
Hyundai confirmed as a lot in a gross sales wrap for 2022, stating its three massive launches for 2023 would be the new-generation Kona, the Ioniq 5 N electrical sizzling hatch, and the brand new Santa Fe.
The present Santa Fe solely (considerably) not too long ago acquired substantial upgrades, with Hyundai claiming the 2021 mid-life replace noticed it transfer to a brand new platform shared with the Kia Sorento.
MORE: Brash new Hyundai Santa Fe to be revealed in 2023
Idea vehicles galore
Idea vehicles. All of us love them, each for what they themselves provide and for what they promise.
Final yr had some crackers, previewing the subsequent era of largely electrified and linked autos earlier than they hit the highway.
From close to production-ready glimpses via to moonshot ardour initiatives, right here we try 20 that grabbed our consideration – with no multiple per model.
MORE: 20 coolest idea vehicles from 2022
What’s in a reputation? Heaps
SsangYong the corporate has been saved, however SsangYong the identify shall be consigned to the scrapheap.
In remarks reported by Korean media, Kwak Jae-sun – the chairman of SsangYong’s new company mum or dad KG Group in addition to the automaker itself – mentioned the agency shall be renamed KG Mobility and new fashions shall be launched below the KG model.
“We’ve got determined to go for a brand new identify to completely utilise the power of SsangYong Motor,” mentioned Kwak at an occasion hosted by the Korea Vehicle Journalists Affiliation.
MORE: SsangYong identify being dropped below new possession
Ram costs ahead with EV pickup
Ram has revealed its 1500 Revolution BEV idea at this yr’s Shopper Digital Present (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This idea previews the manufacturing Ram 1500 BEV due to enter manufacturing in 2024 which shall be proven off “within the coming months”.
It’ll go head-to-head with autos together with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, GMC Sierra EV, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Cybertruck.
MORE: Ram 1500 Revolution EV pickup idea revealed at CES
Which EVs have been the most well-liked final yr?
The 5 hottest electrical autos (EVs) in Australia final yr have been all made in China.
Gross sales of electrical vehicles throughout Australia practically doubled in 2022 to 33,410 autos, equal to about 3.0 per cent of the entire new car market.
Elements like sky-high gas prices, a powerful shift to BEVs from luxurious manufacturers, and the proliferation of state and federal rebates and tax advantages all helped. Ongoing shortages didn’t…
MORE: Australia’s top-selling EVs in 2022
Subsequent 3 Collection previewed?
BMW has revealed its futuristic electrical i Imaginative and prescient Dee idea at this yr’s Shopper Digital Present (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This BMW i Imaginative and prescient Dee – Dee stands for Digital Emotional Expertise – idea supplies a glimpse at what the design and expertise shall be within the German carmaker’s upcoming vary of EVs based mostly on the modular Neue Klasse platform.
As beforehand reported, the Neue Klasse platform is ready to debut in 2025 on a 3 Collection-sized car, which shall be pitted towards the Tesla Mannequin 3. An X3-sized electrical SUV is known to be the second car.
MORE: i Imaginative and prescient Dee EV idea revealed at CES
Weird identify, brutal design
BYD’s promised premium sub-brand has launched its first car, the Yangwang U8, a rugged-looking SUV within the mould of the Land Rover Defender – however with 4 electrical motors.
Studies from the launch in China present an upright design with a blingy grille, headlights fairly like a Nissan Patrol, squared-off wheel arches with sheet metallic blistering, aerodynamic flush door handles, and a chunky D-pillar forward of the tailgate-mounted spare wheel.
However fairly than being mechanically like a Defender it’s extra akin to the upcoming all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQG, although at a reported 5300mm it’s longer even than a GLS.
MORE: BYD reveals luxurious electrical SUV
It isn’t all gloom for Tesla
Tesla says it delivered greater than 400,000 electrical vehicles to clients in quarter 4 of 2022, up 31 per cent over the This fall determine from 2021.
The corporate moreover reported calendar-year 2022 deliveries of greater than 1.31 million vehicles, 40 per cent larger than it achieved throughout 2021.
To place Australia into context, Tesla claimed 17,328 vehicles delivered to the tip of November, that means it ought to end up across the 20,000 mark for the full-year 2022.
MORE: Tesla posts all-time document deliveries amid headwinds
A Higher Wall
Nice Wall Motor (GWM) has launched its new, extra premium Shanhai Cannon pickup on the Guangzhou Auto Present, following the car’s authentic reveal in August final yr.
Billed as a “new large-scale high-performance luxurious pickup” to promote alongside the acquainted GWM Ute, the brand new Shanhai Cannon will provide V6 petrol energy, or a ramped-up 2.4-litre diesel possibility.
Primarily based on GWM’s “off-road tank platform” – understood to be near the brand new Tank 300 SUV’s – the GMW Shanhai Cannon appears to be extra succesful than the current and cheaper GWM Ute.
MORE: New GWM ute launched, with petrol and diesel energy
