Cars of 2016

[Express]

Cars of 2016


From hatchbacks to supercars and everything in-between - here's our guide to what new models are arriving this year.


David McCowen
8 January 2016



The new Ford Mustang is one of the most hotly anticipated cars of 2016. Photo: Supplied

Alfa Romeo is set to welcome a facelifted version of its Giulietta hatch in the third quarter of the year. While it may go on sale in Europe at the end of the year, the brand's hotly awaited Giulia QV sedan isn't likely to go on sale locally until 2017.



Alfa Romeo Giulia QV


Aston Martin will introduce its new DB11 sports car toward the end of the year, blending new looks and Mercedes-AMG power to secure the future of the brand. The car is likely to draw inspiration from the Aston Martin DB10 driven by Daniel Craig as James Bond in Spectre.

Audi is set for a big year, starting with the local debut of the A4 sedan in February, followed by an A4 Avant (wagon) in April and S4 sports sedan/Avant in the final quarter. The brand will bring its latest R8 supercar to Australia in the second quarter, accompanied by updated RS6 and RS7 performance cars that feature more power than before. SUV customers will be treated to a new SQ5 Plus wagon with 700Nm of torque in the second quarter, as well as a plug-in hybrid version of the brand's Q7 SUV in quarter three. The German brand will also introduce a high-performance "plus" version of its S8 limousine in the second quarter.



Static photo, Colour: in crystal effect paint finish Ara Blue 2016 Audi A4



Bentley's year is all about the new Bentayga SUV, which arrives late in 2016. The plush SUV will offer opulent luxury and 447kW of power.

BMW is set to turn up its green credentials with plug-in hybrid versions of its popular 3-Series sedan and X5 SUV. The new BMW 330e will arrive in May, joined at the same time by the X5 xDrive40e, and later by an updates its i3 electric hatch with more battery range. The marque's 7-Series will arrive in flagship 750i form in March, while other models in line for attention include the 1-Series hatch and 2-Series coupe, which will receive tweaks in the second half of the year, along with minor updates for the 4-Series Coupe and 3-Series Gran Turismo. The brand will look after performance car fans with the new M2 coupe, available from $89,900 in April, as well as the 368kW M4 GTS coupe that arrives mid-year.



Only 700 examples of the BMW M4 GTS will be built.


Chrysler and Dodge do not plan to introduce new cars into Australia this year.

Citroen will bring its new C4 Cactus to local customers in March, pricing the lightweight and quirky crossover from $26,990 plus on-road costs in basic petrol form. The French marque may also introduce a facelifted version of its premium DS4 hatch later in the year.



New cars for 2016: Citroen C4 Cactus


Ferrari's year is geared around the new 488 GTB and 488 Spider, which replace the brand's 458 Italia early in the year. Substituting that car's free-revving 4.5-litre V8 for a smaller, turbocharged motor, the new car offers 492kW of power thatr makes it a scintillating performer. The brand's V8 duo are likely to be followed later in the year by the ultimate version of the brand's V12-powered gran turismo in the new Ferrari F12 Tour de France.



2015 Ferrari 488 GTB at Fiorano, Italy


Fiat will introduce a facelifted 500 hatch and convertible early in the new year, accompanied by fresh Abarth versions that offer turbocharged performance and pumped-up style, and a new entry-level model with a sharper price. The brand will follow that up with its first convertible in years, the Mazda MX-5-based 124 Spider that is set to arrive in the third quarter.

Ford's high-performance year kicks off with the highly anticipated return of its iconic Mustang in January. The American muscle car is available in turbocharged or V8 trim as a coupe or convertible, but new buyers should be prepared to wait as thousands of customers have already ordered cars. Ford will be farewell to the locally-built Falcon with limited-edition Sprint models based on the XR6 Turbo and XR8 sports sedans in the first quarter, lending more power to the blue oval's last Australian performance cars. Having satisfied the muscle car crowd, Ford will cater to turbocharged fans with the new Focus RS in June, which brings 257kW of all-wheel-drive performance for $50,900 plus on-road costs. Ford will also introduce an updated Kuga SUV in the fourth quarter, bringing new exterior styling and a refreshed interior.



Ford Focus RS


Haval will introduce the new H6 SUV in the second quarter of the year, having already introduced its H2, H8 and H9 trio in late 2015. The mid-sized H6 will serve as a discount rival to established SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.

Holden fans will have to wait until the end of the year to check out the new Astra, which should bring a touch of class to the brand's compact car lineup. The Astra will be joined at the end of the year by a facelifted Holden Trax that should bring new styling and tech. Before then, Holden will introduce an updated Captiva with a choice of five or seven seats, along with a replacement for the existing Barina Spark hatch. Holden Special Vehicles is rumoured to be readying a final GTS-R version of the homegrown V8 Commodore.



Holden Astra 2016. Opel Astra


Honda is set for a significant year, introducing two new models that will wear its most iconic nameplates. A new Honda Civic arrives mid-year, giving the brand a fresh rival to popular small cars. Honda's iconic NSX will make its return later in the year, taking on blue-chip sports cars such as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911.



New cars for 2016: Honda NSX


Hyundai will offer a new Elantra sedan from March, serving as a rival to the Toyota Corolla sedan. In the third quarter it will add the Elantra SR, which will pack the same 1.6-litre 150kW turbocharged engine and six-speed dual-clutch transmission as the Veloster SR. The brand will also offer its first Australian hybrid in the third quarter. Dubbed Ioniq, the car will be a stand-alone model to rival Toyota's Prius.



2016 Hyundai Elantra


Infiniti is set to bring new metal to market in the form of its new Q30 hatchback and QX30 spinoff. Borrowing hardware from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the compact duo could give the brand a much-needed lift in sales from the third quarter of the year. Infiniti will also introduce updated Q50 and Q70 sedans in the second half of the year, as well as a new Q60 coupe at the end of the year.



Infiniti QX30 Concept


Jaguar is set for a significant year anchored by the arrival of its first SUV, the F-Pace. The highly anticipated crossover will arrive in the late July or early August, on the heels of a all-new XF sedan in February and updated XJ limousine in March. There will also be the limited run F-Type British Design Edition in July.



Jaguar has revealed the Australian F-Pace range ahead of its launch in late 2016.


Jeep is set for a quieter year in 2016, having already introduced its new Renegade baby SUV. The brand will release a number of special edition models to keep things fresh. The second quarter will see a run of 75th Anniversary limited editions and the Grand Cherokee Special Edition will lob in the third quarter.

Kia will bring the new Sportage to Australia early in the new year, introducing new features and polarising styling to its SUV stable. The brand will follow that with a new Picanto city car in late March, before a facelifted version of its Cerato small car arrives in in early April.



The new Sportage's face has had a significant redesign.


Lamborghini is set to introduce a new entry-level model in the rear-wheel-drive Huracan LP580-2. The coupe will offer Lamborghini customers a chance to own one of its cars for less than $400,000 when it arrives in the first half of the year. Look out for the first local appearance of Lamborghini's hardcore Aventador SV, a lighter and faster version of the brand's most potent performance car.



2016 Lamborghini Huracan RWD


Land Rover and Range Rover will break with tradition by offering a convertible version of the Range Rover Evoque in late September or early October. Before that the British brand will also introduce an opulent SV Autobiography variant of its full-sized Range Rover four-wheel-drive om April, as well as the Land Rover Discovery Sport Dynamic in July.



Genre buster: the Evoque convertible will land in Australia around September 2016.


Lexus will welcome a new GS F sports sedan in the first quarter of the year, offering V8 performance in its mid-sized luxury contender. The brand is also considering a turbocharged NX 200t in sporty F Sport trim that could draw new buyers to the brand.



2016 Lexus GS F


Lotus is in for a big year, introducing the 298kW Evora 400 sports car as well as a new Elise Sport and Exige Sport 350 throughout the year. The brand may also bring special editions that celebrate the British marque's heritage.



Lotus Evora 400


Mahindra looks set to bring new tech to its XUV500 with a mid-life update to the crossover early in the year, as well as updating the bare bones Genio ute.

Maserati is set to join the SUV trend with its new Levante toward the end of the year. The luxury crossover will go head-to-head with the likes of Porsche's Cayenne and the Bentley Bentayga.

Mazda's big news in 2016 is a replacement for its CX-9 SUV. The seven-seat soft-roader will arrive in mid-2016, bringing new styling and technology to Mazda's largest offering.



2016 Mazda CX-9


McLaren will bring new entry-level models to Australia in the form of its new 570S and 540C duo. The new cars are significantly cheaper than McLaren's current products, available early in the year from $350,000 or so.



The McLaren 570S coupe: the company has modified the doors and openings to make it more dignified to get in and out of.


Mercedes-Benz will introduce a replacement for its E-Class executive sedan later this year, introducing new technology to the mid-sized luxury segment. The brand will also bring an updated version of its A-Class hatch in January as well as more powerful, 280kW versions of its turbocharged A45, GLA45 and CLA45 trio. The brand will replace the current GL-class with an updated GLS SUV in the second quarter of the year, accompanied by a new C-Class coupe and facelifted SL-class roadster. Those models will be followed by a new S-Class cabriolet in the second half of the year. Mercedes-Benz is also set to introduce plug-in hybrid versions of its S-Class and C-Class sedans as well as the GLE-Class SUV.



GLS_350d_4MATIC_citrinbraun Mercedes-Benz GLS


Mitsubishi's year will begin with a skin-deep facelift of its Mirage city car that offers slightly sharper styling along with new infotainment features. That model will be joined mid-year by a refreshed Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid model with new looks as well as extra drivetrain refinement.

Nissan has a handful of options on its plate, including a range of Nismo-branded performance cars not currently available in Australia. Those include the Nissan GT-R Nismo supercar, Juke Nismo hatchback and 370Z Nismo coupe that could be a good for for Australia.

Mini will introduce a convertible version of the Cooper hatch in the second quarter of the year. The Mini Convertible is likely to carry over the brand's choice of turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines.

Peugeot's big news is the introduction of its 308 GTi hatch. Priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs, the French pocket rocket offers up to 200kW of power from a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine.



2016 Peugeot 308 GTi 270 at Sydney Motorsport Park.


Porsche will introduce a new 911 Carrera early in the year, switching from naturally aspirated to turbocharged power for the most iconic sports car on sale. That model will be followed by Carrera 4 all-wheel-drive versions, an open-roof Targa variant and an update to the brand's 911 Turbo flagship. Porsche is also rumoured to be replacing its Boxster and Cayman duo with new entry level sports cars toward the end of the year. The brand will also introduce a sporty GTS variant of its Macan SUV before Easter.



2016 Porsche 911 Carrera S


RAM trucks will ramp up its Australian presence in 2016, having entered the market in November last year. The converted American trucks are powered by 6.7-litre turbo diesel engines and can tow up to seven tonnes.

Renault's year will focus on the new Megane, which is set to arrive around September. The all-new French hatch is longer and sleeker than its predecessor, though performance buyers will have to wait until 2017 to drive the upcoming RS performance variant. Renault will also introduce a new Master Bus in January.



New cars for 2016: Renault Megane


Rolls-Royce is set to introduce a new convertible based on its decadent Wraith coupe. The two-door, four-seat Dawn will arrive in the first half of the year, bringing top-down opulence for a hefty $749,000 plus options.



Rolls Royce DAWN Media Breakfast Launch on Sydney Harbour, Wedensday 18th November 2015 2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn


Skoda will welcome its new Superb to Australia in March. The larger, better equipped and more refined successor to the brand's flagship will be the most advanced Skoda on sale.



2015 Skoda Superb


Subaru is set to bring its WRX-based Levorg wagon to Australia in 2016, blending turbocharged performance and versatility in a combination that will be welcomed by supporters of the brand. The brand will also introduce an updated version of its Forester SUV that will include a tuned tS version with hardware sourced through its STI performance arm.



Subaru Levorg GT S


Suzuki is set to introduce a new Ignis hatch at the end of the year, giving the brand a rival to the new Mazda2. The manufacturer is also ready to sell a turbocharged version of its Vitara compact SUV in time for the second quarter of the year, offering more power and torque than the brand's current offering.

Tesla will double its Australian range late in the year with the local introduction of its Model X SUV. The electric marque's first high-riding wagon will offer supercar-style "gullwing" rear doors, along with supercar performance in dual-motor P90D trim.



Elon Musk, chairman and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors, exits the Model X sport-utility vehicle during an event on Sept. 29, 2015.


Toyota's iconic Prius hybrid is in line for replacement in March, introducing new styling and a more refined and efficient powertrain. The biggest selling brand in Australia will also unveil a facelifted RAV4 to tackle the SUV market. The fourth quarter will see an updated version of the LandCruiser 70-series with improved safety including stability control across the range.



2015 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser 2016 Toyota RAV4


Volkswagen's year starts with a five-door Alltrack version of the new Passat wagon in March, lending all-wheel-drive traction and versatility to the brand's family car platform. That model will be joined toward the end of the year by a facelifted Amarok ute as well as a new Tiguan compact SUV to tackle rivals such as Mazda's CX-5 in the fourth quarter.



Volkswagen Passat Alltrack


Volvo's new XC90 will soon be available in purposefully-styled R-Design trim as well as the range-topping T8 plug-in hybrid. The brand's compact V40 hatch is also in line for an update late in the year, accompanied by a new S90 sedan that shares its engines, underpinnings and driver aids with the XC90.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/c...05-gm03cw.html

[Polyal]

funny how sometimes you think cars are getting bland but look at that list alone, its pretty exciting really.

Mustang will be great, but I really do love that Alfa, id be interested to see how much the entry/mid spec cars are.

[csv8]

[ Skoda Superb will be interesting in the large car market....http://www.caradvice.com.au/352881/2...superb-review/

[Windsor220]

So what do you drive? A cactus.

Worst. Name. Ever.

[Wretched]

So much goodness listed there.
Wouldn't say no to a Focus RS.

[Beastie]

How funny does the Evoque look

[Sabantien]

The Cactus looks like a cross between the old RAV4s and a mini. Yet there's something appealing about it. Looking further it seems to be incredibly fuel efficient with plenty of space inside, and those 'air bumps' stop people scratching up your car in car parks. Definitely something for around town.

I like that there's so many different styles, even if most don't appeal. That Lexus would be my choice, but I don't have a spare 160k lying around unfortunately. :(

[Brazen]

I think Audi and BMW need to get some younger blood in their stoic German boardrooms - they both seem to be resting on design languages they introduced 10 years ago.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

The Cactus looks like a cross between the old RAV4s and a mini. Yet there's something appealing about it. Looking further it seems to be incredibly fuel efficient with plenty of space inside, and those 'air bumps' stop people scratching up your car in car parks. Definitely something for around town.

Looks interesting, I like the colour as well. Would seriously consider it if I was in the market for a new car seeing as I have a history of driving cars that are a little 'out there'...

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Looks interesting, I like the colour as well. Would seriously consider it if I was in the market for a new car seeing as I have a history of driving cars that are a little 'out there'...

Would love one as well. It's getting really good reviews, lots of personalisation options that look great. Citroens have a 6 year factory warranty in Australia so good ownership prospects

[Express]

Originally Posted by Brazen

I think Audi and BMW need to get some younger blood in their stoic German boardrooms - they both seem to be resting on design languages they introduced 10 years ago.

I was thinking the same about the Lamborghini and it the second most important reason why I won’t be buying one, the first is the price.

[csv8]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

So what do you drive? A cactus.

Worst. Name. Ever.

Worst name ever ? Pajero means wxxxxr in Spanish!!!

[Brazen]

At least if it ever broke down you could say "my Cactus is cactus"

[CoupeKing]

I'll take the Lambo and the Focus.

Cactus...hahaha. Looks like someone started it then went home for the weekend. A cleaner came in on Saturday and finished it for him....after 20 cones of Hash.

No plans for Dodge...Hellcat would have looked good amongst them.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

Just when I thought I'd seen it all, along comes the Citroen "Cactus". If you can get past the ridiculous name, who in their right mind would want to drive a hideous pos like that which has non slip surfaces from a train station platform plastered down the sides of it?
I think the staff at Citroen need to put the meth pipe down and check themselves into rehab as this car is really beyond a joke.

Looks better than a Barina Spark ...

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

What relevance does a Barina Spark have to anything being discussed in this thread? Perhaps you need to take the advice of the last sentence in my previous post.

I thought you drove one ....

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by tempted

Well the meth really isn't doing you any favours then.

It seems it fuels your trolling here at Ford Forums. You would be a subject matter expert then ...

[GasoLane]

Keep personal slanging matches out of the thread please.

[Dauphin]

From a styling point of view, I looked for the new Kia to see if it looked as good as their other stuff lately, but it looked a bit awkward. I think the Mustang is the best-looking of this bunch. The Alfa Romeo looks kinda hilarious.

[Express]

Originally Posted by Dauphin

The Alfa Romeo looks kinda hilarious.

Big front bar air intakes on performance cars for various coolers are all the rage at the moment and even though I don’t particularly like them they’re obviously very functional but that aside I do like the stance on that Alfa.

[Polyal]

The Alfa is a weapon, its styling is not to indifferent to an M3 etc

[PridenJoy]

The cactus looks cactus, name suits it well.

The Jag F-bomb looks like a nice SUV.

[deluxe_]

Great going Hyundia, they really did copy/paste of Camry with that new Elantra

[Sabantien]

They had the C4 Cactus in the shopping centre today, and in the flesh, I quite like it. Bigger than I thought it would be, and looks great in red. Didn't like the glossy black wheels though.

Should have hopped inside to check out how roomy it is, but didn't particularly feel like talking to the sales person who I saw making their way towards me.

[Fordman1]

The Astra is seriously good car from what I'm hearing.

200 kg lighter too.