Car novelties 2023: What the manufacturers are planning
Martin Franz, Florian Pillau
(Bild: Peugeot)
2023 will not be an easy year for carmakers, as an expected recession is likely to cut margins. What innovations will they come up with to counter this?
In view of the many premieres with electric drives, one might think that general electric mobility has been proclaimed as of 2023. With Nio, Aiways, Ora and Wey, electric car brands from China are also arriving in Europe, while the manufacturers already known here, some of them domestic, are presenting far more electric cars than conventional ones. But despite the many new electric cars, by far the largest share of new cars sold in 2023 will still have gasoline engines, and some will still have diesel engines. We present the most important innovations in two parts.
However, the requirements for the Euro 6e emissions standard, which will be mandatory for new cars from 2024 (to be introduced on September 1 for newly homologated cars), could lead to the end of some models within the year and make others slightly more expensive. In the longer term, more diesel engines in particular will probably be withdrawn from the range.
After an initial boost over the past few years, electromobility will be subsidized somewhat less vigorously from 2023, and partially electric cars with rechargeable traction batteries will no longer be subsidized at all. This makes sense because these plug-in hybrid cars contribute too little to the energy transition and electric ones now have lower operating costs than fossil-fuel-powered ones, even if the CO₂ levy on gasoline is suspended for the time being due to the energy crisis. In the meantime, some of the funds are being spent more sensibly on expanding the electrical infrastructure - after all, the cars are supposed to be able to be driven.
Manual transmission is dying
Incidentally, it is increasing electrification that Mercedes-Benz cites as a reason to end production of vehicles with manual transmissions in 2023. "The switch to automatic transmissions will be model-specific as we move to new generations of vehicles," the company says. "With increasing electrification, we see customer demand shifting toward electromobility components, batteries and (partially) electric drive systems," the spokesperson said. Accordingly, Mercedes-Benz wants to "gradually stop offering manual transmissions." Above all, however, this decision saves money and has certainly been longed for.
New car trends remain stable, and the fascination with tall cars remains huge 24 years after the official introduction of the SUV. The BMW XM, due in April, is a prime example of the fact that even the mighty models can still be bigger and more powerful. Not even the former Smart microcar brand was spared and brought a veritable SUV model with the Smart #1, albeit somewhat more modest.
Fortunately the station wagon comes again
Four-door cars with coupe-shaped roofs are also unlikely to die out anytime soon. Among other things, this was the template for the almost five-meter-long electric VW ID.7 [2], which Volkswagen plans to sell starting in the "second half of 2023," to name just one prominent example. So we'll be happy if the Opel Astra Electric [3] from June 2023 and the technically almost identical Peugeot e-308 from the middle of the year finally make it into the program after the Chinese MG4, two practical station wagon models. And as if that were not enough, two high-roof station wagons in passenger car version with electric drive will complete this group: The Renault Kangoo E-Tech Electric and the Mercedes EQT produced on the same technical basis are to be sold from "early 2023".
The hope for small cars (dies last)
The growth in size and, above all, width is leading to the demolition of the first parking garages because more and more cars can no longer fit through them. Small and subcompact cars would nevertheless be easy to sell, but prospective buyers will probably have to wait a while until conditions, which favor large, expensive cars because of the better margins, return to normal. Dacia is stepping into this gap with its Dacia Spring, which is 3.73 m short and weighs just over a ton and will be sold with 48 kW [4] from summer 2023 instead of the current 33 kW. Not that 33 kW is too low in principle, but in view of the many other electric cars that are often ten times as powerful, it does sometimes feel a bit like that.
VW
(Bild: VW)
Since the cheating with exhaust gas values in forums, the company may have been confronted with a sometimes sharp wind: VW is still the market leader in Germany. 2023 will be a decisive year for VW. The group is driving on two tracks with its VW brand, and after the change at the top, there are indications that electromobility will no longer be without alternative. His successor, Blume, has repeatedly called into question the focus on electromobility that was so loudly expressed under Diess. However, he is only marginally responsible for the plans for 2023; after all, these are mostly long-term implementations.
Three important innovations are in the pipeline for the electric cars: The ID.3 is finally to lose its rather sparse charm in the interior. The revised version will be unveiled in the spring, with deliveries starting in October. The ID.3 GTX, which is to deliver more than 150 kW for the first time in this car, should also be presented then. At the same time, the charging power is to increase to 170 kW in conjunction with the largest battery.
The ID.Buzz got off to a highly acclaimed start. This year, it will be followed by the more pragmatic Cargo, a long-wheelbase version and the GTX version with more power. Similar to the ID.3, it will probably have at least 170 kW. VW is probably still surprised that a relevant number of customers will go along with the ambitious prices. Obviously, the company is now testing how far this limit can be pushed up.
The ID.7 is a completely new model on the market that is designed to meet the needs of customers who are not familiar with the SUV format. They get a sedan in five-meter format, which, according to VW's initial statements at CES 2023, should have a range of around 700 km. Even with very low consumption in WLTP, that suggests at least 100 kWh of energy content. After the Buzz experience with high list prices, which was so positive for the group, a bargain is not to be expected here either.
At the same time, VW is nurturing its successful internal combustion engines. Like the ID.3, the Golf will probably get a finer interior this year, although the pressure to act is less extreme here. After several attempts, the software now seems to be largely stable and error-free, although this construction site will never actually be finished.
The Passat and Tiguan are making their debut, with deliveries scheduled to start this year. Both will be launched with plug-in hybrids as well as with combustion engines alone. Battery-electric drives, on the other hand, are not planned - VW has devised the ID range for this.
Toyota
(Bild: Toyota)
Toyota is successful on the global market, although the brand has hardly made any significant inroads into the electric car niche. This is set to change, although it is not yet clear whether the "bZ Compact SUV Concept" will be followed by a production model this year. The bZ3, which Toyota is taking over from BYD and building under license, probably has a better chance of doing so. After the unsuccessful launch of the bZ4x, the Japanese must be careful not to lose out in this growing market.
The redesigned Corolla will be launched in the spring. It looks virtually unchanged, but the infotainment and powertrain have been improved. Despite more power and faster performance, the consumption of the two hybrid drives is to be reduced. This should also apply to the RAV4, which will be launched in a revised form in the fall. A big step forward is expected here, especially in the area of entertainment electronics.
In 2023, however, the focus of attention at Toyota is to be on the resurrected Prius - the former flagship hybrid car was withdrawn from the market throughout Europe in the summer of last year. The relaunch one year later is to succeed with a plug-in hybrid. Unlike many other plug-in hybrids, this one is supposed to be economical with both energy sources. If it succeeds, it would be a real enrichment of the range. Here, too, however, it is not expected that there will be a special offer in the form of a particularly low price.
Hyundai
(Bild: Hyundai )
Hyundai has built a reputation as a provider of very fast-charging electric cars. The unusually shaped Ioniq 5 can now be seen surprisingly often. It will be joined in the spring by the Ioniq 6, which uses the same technology but is designed to appeal to a different group of buyers. Here, too, the customer is offered a rapid charging speed. At 43,900 euros, the basic version is as expensive as the Ioniq 5, but the battery is slightly smaller at 53 kWh. The large battery with 77 kWh is coupled with more extensive equipment. A surcharge of around 10,000 euros is due for the upgrade.
The new Kona is to follow later in the year, initially as a hybrid again, and then a little later as an electric car. It will be exciting to see whether Hyundai will also use the more expensive 800-volt platform here - or not, as in the case of the similarly sized Kia Niro EV. It is fairly certain that Hyundai will again offer two battery sizes in the new Kona EV.
(Bild: Hyundai)
The Ioniq 5 N has now been confirmed, which will offer roughly the same performance as the EV6 GT from Kia since 2022. There, the driver can draw on a maximum of 430 kW, which enables driving performance that hardly has any competition. The factory figures are 260 km/h and a sprint to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. The Hyundai should be similarly racy. Very little is known about the i10 and i20 model updates. However, this will presumably mainly involve a refreshed look and enhanced entertainment electronics.
Tesla
(Bild: Tesla)
Tesla plans to unveil the production version of the Cybertruck this year, but sales are unlikely to start until 2024 at the earliest. The balance sheet date in March is eagerly awaited. Then, among other things, there should be news about battery cells that can be produced more cheaply. The long-announced small car should also be concretized then. Tesla originally quoted an entry price of $25,000 . This is likely to be difficult, especially since it is not possible to predict when this car will be launched on the market. Optimists expect the end of next year as the earliest possible start date for production.
Skoda
(Bild: Skoda )
At Skoda, the model changes of the two largest models are on the agenda this year. The Superb and Kodiaq will be slightly larger and have electrified powertrains. The Kodiaq will probably also get a plug-in hybrid for the first time. However, there will not be a purely battery-electric strand. Now that the software of the third-generation Modular Infotainment System is at least running stably, it will be rolled out here as well. Highly automated driving will not be an issue for the time being, because Skoda is leaving the technology leadership to other brands in the Group in this respect as well.
The Scala and Kamiq, which are sometimes underestimated on the German market, will be revised in 2023. With 14,796 new registrations last year, Skoda's smallest SUV is well below the brand's bestsellers, but above the Enyaq, which the brand still cannot supply in sufficient numbers - the waiting times are still enormous. The Scala and Kamiq will only be given a gentle makeover. In addition to some visual retouching, there will mainly be updates to the infotainment systems - just like they did with the Karoq in 2022.
Since the Golf will be updated this year, Skoda will also complete this refresh for the Octavia. It is only unclear whether this will happen at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. Then there could also be a plug-in hybrid below the Octavia RS again. Due to the unchanged preferential tax treatment for company cars, it would probably have good chances.
BMW
(Bild: BMW)
BMW also has a year full of premieres ahead of it. The X5 and X6 SUVs are being redesigned, with the main focus on looks, drive and infotainment. Both will get the upgrade to the eighth generation of BMW's own software with the option to take the big step to OS9 as well. This also affects the 1 Series, which will be introduced in 2019 and whose sales figures are considerably lower than those of its predecessors. In terms of interior space, it should follow the 3 Series, which was redesigned last year, but we don't expect a big step in terms of engines. It would be too expensive. The realization that it was a mistake to send this generation on its way without electrified powertrains has probably long been acknowledged internally in Munich.
As with the X1, which will be launched in 2022, the brand is correcting itself in this respect with the X2, which will be presented in the second half of the year. It will naturally have a battery-electric powertrain on request, and customers will presumably even have a choice of different ones by then. BMW has to deliver here and make unit sales, because the latter is not to be expected from either the i7 or the XM, at least in this country. Both are already only niche products due to the price range they are in, and BMW has visually done a lot to support this with a second argument.
The brand cannot afford to do that with the new edition of the 5 Series. It will be launched in the middle of the year with a design that is compatible with the masses, or at least less polarizing. It will be capable of highly automated driving at level 3, but possibly not right from the start. In any case, it seems more relevant that BMW will offer customers an unusual range of powertrains in this class, as it does with the 7 Series: Gasoline, diesel, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric drive will be available.
Peugeot
(Bild: Peugeot)
Peugeot is now doing good business thanks to electric cars: The 208 and 2008 are in demand as electric cars, which is also due to the fact that there is not much competition in their immediate environment. A technical update was presented in 2022. It increases the energy content of the battery slightly, while at the same time significantly reducing consumption and increasing the range. The drive now has an output of 115 instead of 100 kW. Many customers would probably have preferred progress in charging, but here it remains at 11 kW AC and 100 kW DC. The technical update will be followed by an update of the two cars themselves in the second half of the year. Formally, however, not much will change, which also applies to the revision of the 508, which should be presented in May.
New on the market will be the just-introduced 408 as an electric car and the new edition of the successful 3008, which will also be available as a PHEV, combustion engine and electric car, although not in this breadth this year.
Mercedes
(Bild: Mercedes)
Mercedes is about to launch a new version of the E-Class, which will have to hold its own, especially in technical terms, without coming close to the S-Class. Like the BMW 5 Series and i5, it will also be able to drive highly automated at level 3. Unlike the competition from Bavaria, Mercedes is launching its electric cars as independent models. With the EQE [5], the Stuttgart-based company has been in the race since 2022 and is well positioned. We therefore do not expect the next E-Class to have a stand-alone electric drive. The sedan will be unveiled in the spring, and the station wagon, which is still important in Western Europe, will follow in early fall at the latest.
Technically unsurprising will be the new GLC Coupé, based on the SUV and the C-Class. Here, too, electrified powertrains are to be expected, although not with a sole electric motor.
Somewhat in the shadow of these premieres, derivatives of the A-Class, which was revised in 2022, are being gently updated. They include the GLA, GLB and the two CLA models. In this breadth, the range will no longer have a long-term existence. Mercedes plans to massively reduce the number of models based on the A-Class from 2025. The GLA and GLB are likely to survive the next model change, even if only as electric cars. There will also be a sedan and a successor to the CLA Shooting Brake.
Mazda
(Bild: Mazda )
Ever since the presentation of the MX-30 electric car, rumors have been circulating that Mazda wants to compensate for the disadvantage of a comparatively small battery with an optional range extender. Now Mazda has presented the MX-30 as a plug-in hybrid with a rotary engine and DC charging option.
Wankel engine with a chamber volume of 830 cm3, which produces 55 kW. The e-motor offers 125 kW, and for the difference to the combustion engine it draws on the 17.8 kWh battery, which according to WLTP should enable a range of 85 km. A three-phase AC charger for up to 11 kW is installed, and DC charging with a maximum of 36 kW is also possible. At 35,990 euros, the base model costs as much as the MX-30 with battery-electric drive, which remains in the range.
Automotive novelties 2023
For some time now, there have been studies that are supposed to roughly show the design of the next Mazda 6. The time should come in the second half of the year, because a change is actually due. The sedan and station wagon have been on the market since 2012 and, measured against that, have held up surprisingly well visually. But technically it is about time, because the current platform does not offer the possibility of electrification of the powertrains. And Mazda cannot escape this trend either.
In recent years, Mazda has repeatedly attracted attention with unusual engine solutions. Only Mazda currently offers a gasoline engine that ignites its mixture partly via compression. The CX-60 was launched in 2022 with a plug-in hybrid, followed in 2023 by diesel and gasoline engines as inline six cylinders.
Kia
(Bild: Kia)
Kia will round off its range of electric cars with the EV9 this year. The brand showed where it is headed at AutoMobility LA 2021. The e-SUV will be significantly larger than the EV6, which is around 4.7 m long, and there will also be at least one technical change: The familiar 800-volt voltage level will be retained, but Kia will improve the energy content. No figures are available yet, but we can expect at least around 90 kWh. Kia promises a range of 500 km, and the motors are expected to produce around 440 kW together. The SUV is expected to be launched in the second half of the year, although it is still uncertain whether European customers will be able to order the series at the start.
Audi
(Bild: Audi)
Audi did surprisingly well last year, even though volume models like the A4 and Q5 have already reached a considerable age, because the past revisions and model changes have not changed either of them profoundly. The new A4 will be the first to be available as a plug-in hybrid. Above all, we can expect a fundamental change in design.
The Q5, which is more important for the global market, should at least be unveiled in 2023, with sales probably not starting until 2024. A PHEV is already available in the current model, and this offering will be expanded in the successor. The A4 and Q5 will be among the last new Audi models that will still be available with combustion engines.
Opel
(Bild: Opel)
Opel is one of the few brands that has small electric cars in its range - and is quite successful with them. In a few months, the Corsa-e was the best-selling electric car in Germany. The Mokka is also selling very well, and here, too, the e-drive has played its part in this success. In 2023, both will be revamped. Technically, details of the facelift are already known: The battery in the E versions grows to 51 kWh, and the range in WLTP increases due to significantly lowered consumption. This is probably only partly due to the improved electric motor. In the WLTP, the charging loss is also included in the consumption. It is therefore conceivable that Opel has reduced the charging losses and thus lowered the consumption figure in the cycle.
We expect the Corsa to have a front end with the look of the Mokka. In the interior, the measly seven-inch display should make way for the instrument cluster and the entertainment electronics will be more intuitive to operate. The revised versions of the Corsa and Mokka will be unveiled in the spring.
The Astra with electric motor will then be launched as a five-door sedan in the middle of the year, followed by the station wagon towards the end of the year. The key data are already known: The engine has an output of 115 kW, and the battery has an energy content of 54 kWh. In this environment, that's a narrow dimension. So it is quite possible that Opel will improve on this point, but this will by no means happen this year. The price has not been revealed yet - we expect a base price significantly below the VW ID.3.
Volvo und Polestar
(Bild: Volvo)
Volvo has two premieres lined up this year: The EX30, which will serve as Volvo's future entry into the world of electric cars, is to be unveiled in the spring. Volvo hasn't been smaller for a long time. At around 4.2 m, the EX30 will be about as long as a Renault Megane Electric. Volvo has not yet revealed any technical data, but since the brand will not participate in a battle for the cheapest e-car, we expect rather generous values: battery from 60 kWh upwards, engine power at least 130 kW in the base model. Financially, the Smart #1 could provide a rough orientation, which is available from around 41,490 euros.
The EX90, which will be shown for the first time in November 2022, will serve a completely different clientele. It is intended to win over customers who have so far opted for the XC90. The battery here has a capacity of 111 kWh, and the powertrain has an output of 300 or 380 kW depending on the version. The EX90 is prepared for highly automated driving and will also be one of the first to use Google Maps HD. Including a truly rich standard equipment, the E-SUV costs at least 105,550 euros. Weak consolation: Even with all the available extras, this electric car won't cost much more, because the base price includes almost everything imaginable.
The Polestar 3 is built on the same basis. It, too, is a full-bodied e-SUV that will be offered with 360 and 380 kW. Surprisingly, the prices are slightly below the level of the Volvo EX90; the least expensive model is to be sold from 88,600 euros - just under 17,000 euros is a decent chunk even in this class. Highly automated driving and Google Maps HD will also be available in the Polestar 3.
The Volvo XC40 is being revised this year, with the technical update for the electric cars already completed in December 2022. The details are quite interesting, because Volvo has changed the single-engine version from front- to rear-wheel drive, and there is also a version with a motor that offers minimally more power and range.
Ford
(Bild: Ford)
The revival of a legendary name for a new off-road vehicle raises great expectations. In fact, it's not a soft-boiled SUV model, but an off-roader with a ladder frame, long and short wheelbase, and seriously engineered-in off-road capability that can really only be found in the USA, Alaska, or certain developing countries. This was most recently the domain of the Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco can't really compete with the otherwise comparable Wrangler because of the lack of axle mobility. Even if only slightly.
Nevertheless, Ford now wants to market the Bronco in Germany as well. Here, initially with a 2.7-liter V6 gasoline engine with 246 kW output and 563 Nm torque, the familiar 10-speed torque converter automatic or a 2.3 liter four-cylinder with 198 kW, 315 Nm and 7-speed torque converter automatic, both with a really short off-road range. Of course, it can also be equipped with differential locks on request. Even in basic equipment, however, the Bronco could end up between the 55- and 70,000-euro mark. It can be assumed that an advanced battery-electric version with the electrical technology of the Ford F-150 pick-up truck is already being tested. Whether and when the car will come probably also depends on the availability of batteries.
Ford has a problem and urgently needs to solve it: The only electric car currently in the lineup is the Mustang Mach-E, which drives great but isn't mass-market compatible. The brand is facing upheaval: Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy will not get direct successors. The Kuga is selling well, partly because it is available as a plug-in hybrid. This year, Ford finally wants to enter the mass market of electric cars. The first will be an e-SUV based on Volkswagen's Modular Electric Toolkit, which will be about the size of a VW ID.4. This also sets the key data: 400 volt voltage level, maximum 170 kW charging power and 77 kWh battery. The unveiling should be in spring, and delivery could start before the summer vacations. In terms of prices, we expect an offering that starts slightly below VW's. We can expect around 43,000 euros for the base model.
Smart
(Bild: Smart)
The Smart brand is being revived this year. The original idea of a tiny but luxurious subcompact car has been abandoned. The Smart #1 is a compact car measuring around 4.3 m in length and roughly the size of a VW ID.3. Even the base model has an output of 200 kW, and the top model is said to have 315. For some customers, it would have been more important to be able to charge three-phase in the lowest-priced model, but AC charging ends at 7.4 kW. The more expensive models, on the other hand, can be charged with up to 22 kW. A peak of 150 kW is possible with direct current. The 66-kWh battery is good for a range of 440 km in the cycle. The base model costs 41,490 euros, and sales will start before the end of January. Slightly larger will be the Smart #3, which will probably also be sold in Europe with 200 and 315 kW from the end of 2023. Prices here are likely to start at just under 50,000 euros.
