A-to-Z guide to the latest new cars on the market
New car buyers have never had so much choice. explores the latest entrants to the market, and others on the horizon.
Alfa Romeo
The Italian company’s new mid-sized SUV, the stylish Stelvio, hasn’t been on sale long in Ireland, but it will soon be joined by another larger Alfa Romeo SUV and a new large executive saloon to take on the likes of the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series.
Audi
Brand new generations of the Audi A8 and A7 Sportback are already on the ground in Ireland and next to arrive will be the high-tech A6, in both saloon and Avant estate guises.
Then it’s the turn of the company’s ‘Q’ SUVs to shine, starting with the new Q8 range-topper. That’ll be swiftly followed by the company’s first all-electric car, expected to be called the Q6 e-tron. After that will be an all-new Q3 and a brand-new Audi A1 supermini.
BMW
BMW has already shown us what its next-generation X4 and X5 SUVs will look like, following on from the launch of the accomplished X3 and sharp-looking X2. Topping them all will be the gargantuan seven-seat X7. Further down the range, and toward the end of this year, we’ll get our first glimpse of the next 3 Series, arguably one of the company’s most important new cars. There’s also an all-new Z4 roadster in the pipeline and a slinky new 8 Series Coupe.
A new V8 engine with incredible power and acoustics featured at the #LeMans24 Race.
— BMW (@BMW) June 17, 2018
The all-new BMW #8series Coupé. #BMW | https://t.co/js9L8bge10 pic.twitter.com/rCg19fcOym
Citroen
Like all the other carmakers, Citroen is focusing its new model efforts on SUVs and, hot on the heels of the acclaimed C3 Aircross is the larger C5 Aircross — set to rival the best-selling Nissan Qashqai as well as Hyundai Tucson, etc.
Dacia
The only new car model that we know is coming from the Renault-owned manufacturer Dacia will be a comprehensively overhauled version of the popular Duster crossover.
It should seal its place in Irish buyers’ minds as the go-to value-for-money SUV, but with a touch more style.
DS
DS should finally start to come out from under the shadow of its Citroen parent later this year, with the launch of the all-new DS 7 Crossback, a luxurious SUV that has no equivalent in the Citroen line-up. It’s expected to be followed by a smaller crossover, potentially tagged the DS 3 Crossback.
Ford
Car enthusiasts will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of a facelifted version of the Mustang in Ireland, plus the launch of the sporty new Fiesta ST, but Ford will be busiest with the introduction of its all-new Focus range of cars, undoubtedly its most important model.
The new Focus will be offered in hatchback and estate body styles as before, along with a new crossover-like ‘Active’ variant. This approach is also being taken by the relatively new Fiesta and the Ka+.
Honda
Now that the impressive new Civic range is apparently complete, Honda will turn its attention to updating its CR-V SUV.
For the first time, it will become available with a seven-seat option and there will also be more focus on petrol and hybrid power.
Hyundai
It’ll be a busy year or so for Hyundai, notably so on the SUV side. Its best-seller, the Tucson, comes in for a modest update, while the smaller Kona is soon also set to be available with a diesel engine and also as a purely electric vehicle.
If that’s not efficient and high-tech enough for you, watch out for the forthcoming Nexo, powered by a fuel cell no less.
Of rather more interest in the short term to more buyers will be a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe, hitting Irish dealers imminently.
Jaguar
Jaguar has already launched its likeable E-Pace SUV, but all the headlines are being grabbed by its bigger — and all-electric — I-Pace. It’s being touted as a ‘Tesla-killer’ and the first impressions suggest that Jaguar has done a good job on it — even if supply will be low to start with and the price will be high.
Jeep
You can walk into your local Jeep showroom right now and test-drive the company’s mainstream Compass model. It’ll be joined shortly by a refreshed Renegade crossover and an all-new generation of the iconic Jeep Wrangler. Rumours suggest that a range-topping Jeep to take on the Range Rover is also in the works, possibly to be badged Grand Wagoneer.
Kia
The biggest launch for Kia this year will be a brand-new Ceed hatchback and estate, competing with the equally-new Ford Focus. However, Kia will also have a significantly refreshed Sportage crossover to sell, an updated Sorento SUV and an electric version of the neat Niro crossover.
Lexus
Lexus has gone all daring for the latest version of its range-topping LS luxury saloon, which is already on sale in Ireland.
That design language will be carried over to the GS-replacing ES executive saloon, launching this summer, and to the company’s smallest model yet, the brand new UX crossover.
Mazda
Things are quiet from the Japanese manufacturer this
year. Unless there’s a surprise in store, the only new model we know about is a revamped Mazda6 saloon and estate range.
Mercedes
Mercedes is possibly the busiest brand of them all this year. Just arrived are the new A-Class hatchback and CLS executive ‘four-door coupe’ and they’ll soon be joined by the facelifted C-Class line-up, brand new G-Class and GLE SUVs and the incredible Mercedes-AMG GT four-door. It won’t be long before we see first of the ‘EQ’ electric models, either.
Mini
Though not expected to go on sale until 2019, it’s possible we’ll get a peek at a new all-electric car from BMW’s Mini brand in the coming months. Should be fun.
Mitsubishi
This year, Mitsubishi will introduce a facelifted version of the Outlander PHEV (Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle), while it’s hoped that the Pajero Sport also is launched in Ireland to fill the gap left by the phased-out Pajero 4x4.
Nissan
Topping the sales charts with its Qashqai model as we move into the second half of the year, Nissan won’t want to upset the applecart too much. Expect a few modest updates to that crossover and a lot of focus on the company’s impressive new Leaf EV. We’ve heard through the grapevine that an all-new Juke crossover is also being worked on.
Zero Emission and Zero Worries. ⚡ #NissanLEAF #SimplyAmazing
— Nissan (@Nissan) June 13, 2018
📸: jazzabel & trevorfromwherever pic.twitter.com/pEw6Q6ZN3x
Opel
Though Opel has only just revealed a sporty new Corsa GSi model, it’s expected that the company’s supermini is next in line for replacement.
Peugeot
Peugeot is on a high now in Ireland with significantly increased sales, thanks in no small part to its excellent 3008 and 5008 SUVs. Those models’ style has been carried over to a brand-new take on the D-segment 508, which arrives later this year in saloon and estate guises. At this autumn’s Paris Motor Show we expect to see the covers whipped off a new Peugeot 208 as well, designed to really take the fight to the Ford Fiesta.
Porsche
Porsche celebrates its 70th anniversary this year and has already launched the new Cayenne and plenty of variants of the evergreen 911. Any day now, we’ll also witness the unveiling of an update to its biggest-selling model, the Macan SUV.
Renault
Hot hatch fans will be counting down the days until the arrival of the high-performance Megane Renault Sport, while those of a more practical nature will have their eyes on the new Renault Alaskan pickup truck. The latter shares its underpinnings with the Nissan Navara and Mercedes X-Class, incidentally.
Seat
Big news at the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Group is, quite literally, big, in the shape of the Seat Tarraco. Although no images have been released as yet, we do know that the Tarraco will essentially be Seat’s version of the seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq.
Skoda
A mildly facelifted version of the popular Skoda Fabia supermini is due out later this year — while rumours of a funky small crossover to sit below the Karoq in the range persist.
We're revealing a new look for our award-winning ŠKODA FABIA. Check out the brand new design for the Monte Carlo from the Geneva International Motor Show. #GimsSwiss #DrivenBySomethingDifferent pic.twitter.com/XKHX9efaUO
— Škoda UK (@SKODAUK) March 21, 2018
SsangYong
The sometimes forgotten third Korean carmaker has a new Rexton SUV to sell, plus the imminent arrival of a new pickup, called the Musso.
Subaru
The new Subaru Impreza is already on sale in Ireland and the next new model from the Japanese company will be a facelifted version of the Outback — the firm’s highly versatile estate mixed with an SUV.
Subaru Impreza: "A car that takes the ingredients of its predecessor and improves it. It's better to drive, gets lots of safety equipment and will go farther than all of its rivals off-road." @WhatCar
— Subaru UK (@subaruuk) June 4, 2018
See https://t.co/PeiVSlFuxz. Subaru, #BetterWhereItMatters. pic.twitter.com/FUxWZQl1pU
Suzuki
It’s a relatively quiet year for Suzuki, other than the launch of the company’s nippy new Swift Sport model.
Tesla
With a sales outlet established in Dublin, will Irish buyers soon have the option to buy Tesla’s much- discussed Model 3?
We do hope so.
Toyota
Facelifts for the Toyota Aygo and Land Cruiser launch this year, but anyone with petrol in their veins will be drooling at the prospect of a brand-new Toyota Supra sports car. The rear-drive coupe has been developed in conjunction with BMW and should break cover in the coming months.
Volkswagen
The new Touareg is Volkswagen’s most significant new model of note this year, raising the game of the big SUV. It’ll be followed by a facelifted Passat range and then by a crossover based on the Polo platform, likely to be called the T-Cross. Then it’ll be time for Volkswagen to let us see its new I.D. range of electric cars.
Volvo
Volvo can do no wrong with its design at the minute and its XC40 crossover has received widespread acclaim. Next up will be the simply gorgeous V60 estate, then the S60 saloon before the same approach will be used on the next-generation Volvo S40 and V40, expected in Ireland in 2019.
