This week’s car news: 11-15/7

We publish a lot of car news during the work week (normally 70 news) and it can be difficult to keep up with everything – that’s the underlying reason behind this weekend’s list.

In short, this is some Important articles from our newsstand as of this Monday have been summarized, in case you miss them at the time.

Hyundai electrifies its N sports cars

We’ve been talking about it for a long time but this week, Hyundai confirmed its first all-electric N model, the Ioniq 5 N, will launch in 2023.

At the same time, it introduces two zero-emission concepts, demonstrating the “electrification vision” of the high-performance N sub-brand.

The RN22e is an all-electric concept car based on the recently detailed Ioniq 6 fastback. The N Vision 74 is a retro concept model equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid system (FCEV). It looks great.

FULL STORY: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N confirmed to launch in 2023
FULL STORY: Concept models of Hyundai RN22e and N Vision 74 revealed

Glory to glory

The flagship Toyota Crown underwent a complete makeover in 2023, becoming a range comprising four distinct body styles.

There’s a signature Crown sedan, aimed at people with their own chauffeur. But there are three more members of the family called – in Toyota’s own words – Crown (Crossover Style), Crown (Sporty Style) and Crown (Property Style).

Alas, none of the above will now come to Australia, where Toyota already sells a wide range of products. Although it hasn’t been sold in Australia since 1988, the Crown badge is hugely important to Toyota – only the LandCruiser matches its classic.

FULL STORY: 2023 Top Toyota Crown revealed, not for Australia

Two new Honda SUV models launched

The sixth-generation Honda CR-V is the biggest version yet, featuring a much classier interior and updated powertrain. The company’s Australia arm said it could not confirm an exact launch time for the new version of its best-selling product, but “more than 12 months to go”.

Meanwhile, the smaller ZR-V e:HEV was announced this week in Japan. While it’s essentially an HR-V for the US market (which is different from us), there are a bunch of small changes and some big changes under the bonnet.

ZR-V version for the Japanese domestic market offers more clues about the new name, to be confirmed crossover Honda Australia is planning to mark the middle HR VUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU and The next generation CR-V.

FULL STORY: 2023 Honda CR-V launched, time in Australia has not been confirmed
FULL STORY: 2023 Honda ZR-V hybrid launched in Japan

Are downloadable car things the future?

You pay monthly for subscriptions to services like Spotify and Netflix, and BMW says you might be pleased to do the same for features like heated seats.

With in-car technology supporting over-the-air updates, this has opened the door for BMW Australia to offer features that can be added after purchase on its ConnectedDrive store.

You’ll be able to purchase features like heated seats, heated wheels, or an in-car drive recorder – pay monthly or buy once and for all. Hardware of all is fitted, with software pulled down over the network.

FULL STORY: BMW will offer heated seat subscriptions in Australia

The demand for forest rangers is growing

Ford dealers will take delivery of 10,000 new-generation Rangers across Australia in July and August, beginning the long-awaited launch of the new vehicle.

Early demand was sky-high. Like previous report The company received around 17,000 new Ranger orders as of a month ago, and while it hasn’t provided updated figures today, it’s clear that orders and waitlists have grown even more.

Present, Ford Australia website says you’ll wait up to eight months for the Wildtrak V6 and up to nine months for the Raptor. According to the website, there is a “much shorter standby time” on the XLT and Sport V6, while the Wildtrak 2.0 is “available now”.

FULL STORY: Ford Ranger, 10,000 cars to the dealer to launch, wait 9 months

Hyundai Ioniq 6, rival of Tesla Model 3?

Hyundai has revealed all the details about the Ioniq 6, an impressively ‘streamlined’ car and its second electric vehicle (EV).

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is set to launch in Australia early in the first half of 2023, although the exact lineup, pricing and specifications are yet to be confirmed.

According to a Hyundai Australia spokesperson, the Australian selling price is expected to be similar to that of the Ioniq 5, and range from $70,000 to $80,000.

FULL STORY: Details of Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV 2023, launch time confirmed

RAV4 Hybrid meets new rival from Nissan

Strong popularity Toyota RAV4 Hybrid There’s going to be some much-needed additional competition.

Nissan Australia has now confirmed (as expected) that the new generation X-Trail SUV will be offered with the e-Power series hybrid technology after the initial launch of the core petrol models – however, exactly when remains unclear.

Nissan X-Trail e-Power hybrid will follow the smaller step Qashqai e-PowerIt’s a marked for late 2022 or early 2023 release in Australia.

FULL STORY: Nissan X-Trail e-Power hybrid coming to Australia, but when?

A newly discovered RS4 Avant?

An Audi A4 plug-in hybrid mule, likely RS4, has been rapidly tested in Europe. The wagon (or in other words the Avant in Audi) has a subtle PHEV sticker on the rear windshield and is testing with an Audi RS6 on public roads.

Our spy photographers reported that this mule sang a much louder tune than the standard A4, suggesting it was actually being used to test drivetrain for a hot RS4.

At launch, likely in 2023, the new RS4 will go head-to-head with Mercedes-AMG C63 and its new plug-in hybrid setup. It will also use a turbocharged, non-hybrid-six engine BMW M3 Touring.

FULL STORY: 2023 Audi RS4 PHEV is a spy

A big comeback, types

There’s a new Suzuki Grand Vitara heading to India. Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that it will unveil the new Grand Vitara – a relatively sturdy mid-size four-wheel drive vehicle – on July 20, 2022.

CarExpert understand that it has not been offered to Australia yet, but Suzuki’s local office is pushing Japan hard to get a version of the car for our market.

The car for the Indian market has been developed by Suzuki, but will be produced at a factory in partnership with Toyota, which will also sell its own version of the car called the Hyryder.

FULL STORY: Suzuki Australia promotes the return of the Grand Vitara

Polestar looks to increase production as orders spike

Polestar’s orders jumped 350% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period last year. The next challenge is to deliver them at the right time.

The The Swedish-Chinese electric vehicle startup is now publicly traded – Volvo and Geely remain the main shareholders – says they have taken 50,000 orders for the Polestar 2 sedan since early 2022, including the first part of a large fleet deal with the rental company Hertz.

That number, 50,000 vehicles, is also the number of vehicles expected to be delivered to customers for the entire year. In other words, the bank’s first half order of the year is equal to its full year target, potentially bad news for those looking to order…

FULL STORY: Polestar’s EV order bank is expanding rapidly, looks set to boost production