It’s a new year and that means that manufacturers around the world are getting ready for the release of new models. We’ve picked 10 of those that are expected to arrive on UK roads this year that our team is excited to see, and we know you will be too!
One thing to note is that as the automotive industry as a whole is shifting towards electric vehicles (EVs) more manufacturers are releasing new models with hybrid or fully electric powertrains. This means that a lot of the cars that made it into our top pick are EVs. If that’s not what you’re looking for then we will be publishing our top picks across all body shapes and fuel types in the coming weeks so make sure you keep our blog bookmarked to read these as well.
1. Polestar 3
Polestar has been in the UK for a couple of years now with the Polestar 2, which is a popular electric hatchback, and they’re now expanding their offering with the Polestar 3. The Polestar 3 is a large SUV that measures 4.9 metres long and 2.1 metres wide with plenty of room for you and your passengers to fit comfortably in any of the five seats.
Polestar have managed to keep the sporty essence of the Polestar 2 on the Polestar 3 but in a larger package which gives it a sleek and stylish road presence that rivels the likes of the Tesla Model X and the Jaguar I Pace .
On the interior, there’s a 14.5 inch touchscreen display which uses Google’s operating system (an exclusive for Polestar and their parent brand Volvo) to connect with your phone and the vehicle’s safety systems including radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors.
You can actually order a Polestar 3 already but production of the new models isn’t due to start until this summer so it will be late autumn / early winter before you’ll see them on UK roads.
As Polestar is solely and EV manufacturer the Polestar 3 is an electric SUV. It has an advertised range of 379 miles and with rapid DC chargers providing 250 kW it can go from 10 to 80 percent battery in just 30 minutes.
2. Rolls-Royce Spectre
Another car we’re very excited to see is the Rolls-Royce Spectre. A brand-new car for an iconic brand.
It will be the brand’s first electric vehicle and what makes this even more exciting is that instead of adapting an existing model and giving us an unsatisfying car that doesn’t measure up to a petrol or diesel counterpart or its EV equivalents they’ve built the Spectre from the ground up. It is the first step in the brand’s move to have a completely electric catalogue by 2030.
This stylish coupe has been made with an aluminium chassis in an aerodynamic body shape that helps reduce the weight of the vehicle whilst maintaining the quiet and comfortable ride drivers are used to despite it’s 5.5 metre length and a weight that’s predicted to be nearly 3 tonnes.
The range is expected to exceed 300 miles and an impressive 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds for a car of its size.
There’s no official confirmed sale date for the UK but it is expected to land in quarter four of this year which is October to December.
3. Audi A6 e-tron
Images Sourced: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/audi/a6/354757/audi-a6-e-tron-pictures
Audi is a brand that has been at the forefront of embracing EVs and have managed to do this without compromising the qualities that they’ve been known for decades before that as a manufacturer of internal combustion engines. The A6 electric model is one we’ve been waiting a while to arrive though as they first unveiled it back in 2021 at the Shanghai motor show.
This saloon car is expected to rival the BMW i5 and Tesla’s Model 3 and Y in the electric saloon sector. However, the petrol and diesel A6 models will still be on sale besides the electric version. Drivers with a keen eye will be able to spot the difference as the A6 e-tron has a slightly sleeker design and roomier interior.
The predicted range is expected to be close to 400 miles and as it will be based on the group’s latest premium platform electric EV architecture it will have all the latest in EV technology. This is the same platform that will be used in the new Porsche Macan EV and Audi Q6 e-tron which is due to land this year as well. One of the main benefits of the platform will be the quick 800 volt charging and 100 kWh battery capacity that offers longer ranges.
We don’t have a set date for when the A6 e-tron will be available but it is expected to arrive late this year and we did get glimpses as you can see above of the car being tested at the end of last year which lines up with this timeframe.
4. Jeep Avenger
Jeep is a brand recognised internationally for their SUVs which is it’s exciting to see them producing a fully electric model. The Avenger is a brand-new model for Jeep and is already available to order for delivery early this year.
This SUV will be smaller than the Renegade and initial models of the compact SUV will only have 150 bhp and front-wheel drive. There is a four-wheel drive on the horizon that make it feel more capable and Jeep-like.
As you might guess from the sleeker looks this Jeep isn’t designed to be your fully-capable American off-roader that the brand is known for but rather a stylish alternative for urban drivers that can still handle the terrain of European off-roading.
We’re expecting a range of around 249 miles and on a 100 kW charger the 54 kWh battery will go from 20 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes, meaning you can get back on the road quickly when on longer trips.
5. BYD Atto 3
Image Sourced: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/road-tests/358677/new-byd-atto-3-2022-review-pictures
BYD is a Chinese brand that has been growing in popularity globally and finally returning to the UK market. The company is one of the world’s largest battery manufacturers, so it makes sense that they are also rapidly expanding in the EV sector.
The Atto 3 is a small SUV that in terms of size will sit between the MG ZS and the VW ID.4.
It’s got traditional SUV styling and is available in a number of bold colours for you to choose from. The interior is equally as attractive with plenty of in-car technology including a 15.6 inch infotainment screen that can rotate between portrait and landscape views.
As a battery manufacturer it’s unsurprising that BYD have provided the Atto 3 with an industry leading battery. The 60.5 kWh battery offers a 261-mile range, has a recharge rate up to 88 kW and is made with a lithium-ion-phosphate Blade battery which contains zero cobalt and is claimed to be 50% more energy dense than the conventional lithium-ion battery most EVs use.
If you’re interested in the Atto 3 then you can expect to see dealers begin to pop up around the country in the next couple of months with delivery to customers in the Spring.
6. Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is another car that we’ve been waiting since 2021 to get on the road and it’s finally due to land in the UK mid to late-2023. It was first revealed at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show and continues the brand’s journey to be a leading player in the EV sector.
It will be the largest SUV in Kia’s range and have an optional third row of seats to turn it into a seven-seater, making it one of the few EV options for drivers who need more than five seats.
The car has a solar panel built into the car bonnet and used sustainable materials in the interior to further reduce the car’s environmental impact from the very design concept, through manufacturing to everyday use.
It’s not just on the environmental side that the EV9 is leading the pack, they’ve also got a pop-up steering wheel, 27 inch ultra-wide display and a large panoramic sunroof for a cutting edge look and feel when you’re inside the vehicle.
In terms of range, you’ll be looking at a predicted range of over 300 miles thanks to its Electric Global Modular platform, which offers 800 volt electrical architecture and ultra-rapid charging up to 350 kW.
7. Honda Civic Type R
The Honda Civic Type R is one of the best-selling hatchbacks on the market and the newest model is just as thrilling to drive as its predecessor, which was arguably the best hot hatch available.
This new version is based on the same hardware as the Type R that has just gone off sale so there isn’t too much change but there is enough to notice the difference. The 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine has a revised turbocharger for improved response, so it spins faster and reaches maximum rpm sooner. There’s also been changes to the engine control module, exhaust system and the cooling. These changes mean it now produces 324 bhp and 420 Nm of torque for a 0-62 mph of just 5.4 seconds.
One thing to note is that there has been a significant jump in the cost of the civic between this and the previous Type R. While this is a notable increase, especially if you choose to add extra packs or features to the vehicle with the days of petrol performance cars numbered we don’t expect it to put many drivers off.
8. Hyundai Ioniq 7
Images Sourced: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/hyundai-seven-concept-previews-future-ioniq-suv
Hyundai are expanding their electric SUV range with the latest edition – the Ioniq 7. It will be the largest SUV they offer, with the option of seven seats for drivers who want more than the standard five seats.
Hyundai and Kia share the platform that the Ioniq 7 sits on, in fact it’s the same as the Kia EV9 we mentioned earlier, and in fact they were both previewed at the LA Motor Show that year. A lot of what we know so far about the Hyundai Ioniq 7 comes from this concept car, though it’s expected that some of the features, such as the rear opening doors won’t be on the model officially launched. Though we do expect it to retain the boxy, high body shape, full-width LED headlights bar at the front of the vehicle and large grille.
We’re expecting the Ioniq 7 to arrive in the UK in the second half of this year.
9. Alfa Romeo 6C
In our penultimate spot is Alfa Romeo’s new supercar, which rumour has it will be called the 6C. It’s long been a whisper in supercar circles that Alfa Romeo have been working on a new car and that it might bring back the 6C moniker. The manufacturer seemed to confirm it with a short promotional video which eagle-eyed viewers spotted what looked like a 6C as you can see in the above screengrab.
As there’s still not been official confirmation from the brand we know very little about what this car will be including what it looks like, what the fuel type will be or even when we can expect it, but based on the video we should hopefully learn more this year.
10. Fisker Ocean
Our final pick is the Fisker Ocean. Fisker is another new brand that is coming to UK markets this year. It was first established in 2016 and one of their founding principals is to create the most sustainable vehicles possible.
The Ocean is an SUV with a number of unique features including its full-length SolarSky roof, which when fully exposed to sun can provide drivers up to 1,500 addition miles in a year. It’s worth mentioning though that this vehicle has been developed in California where there’s considerably more sun than we get in England, so UK drivers might not get this level of boost.
Even without the SolarSky’s additional miles you’ll get a range of up to 391 miles on a single charge, and if you do need to take a break to charge the car you can then turn the 17.1 inch display landscape in your cabin with Hollywood Mode to keep you entertained.
Other unique features include California mode, which automatically drops the front and rear side windows, two doggie windows, rear lift gate window and opens the roof at the same time to bring the fresh air in.
We’re expecting this unique vehicle to come to UK shores in mid-2023.
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