The new Porsche Cayman is 30kg lighter, 40 percent stiffer and offers up to 239kW of straight-six muscle. ETA, April 2013.
The new Porsche Cayman is 30kg lighter, 40 percent stiffer and offers up to 239kW of straight-six muscle. ETA, April 2013.
The all-new Audi S3 will be looking for a fight in the hot hatch ring when it reaches South Africa during the first quarter, armed with a new 221kW/380Nm 2-litre TFSI motor.
Audi RS 4: This ferocious family wagon is hauled along by a 331kW/430Nm 4.2-litre V8, said to get it from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds. Expect it to arrive in dealerships around mid-January.
The Audi A4 allroad quattro, due here in February, is basically an A4 Avant in hiking boots. Two-litre turbo power is standard, leaving the choice between 130kW diesel and 155kW petrol formats.
The BMW 4 Series will replace the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible models during 2013 and it should look just about identical to the concept car you see here. The M3 version is also likely to reach our shores before the year is over.
BMW M6 Gran Coupe: Sleek styling, four doors, four seats and a turbocharged V8 with 412kW to get it to 100km/h in just over four seconds. South African sales will start in the second quarter of 2013.
Although not a traditional cabriolet, the DS3 Cabrio will blow some fresh air into the ever-expanding modern DS range when it arrives in SA around the second quarter of 2013.
The all-new Fiat Panda will finally arrive in South Africa during the first quarter, although the range will not include the clever new TwinAir petrol motors.
ST fans will be waiting with baited breath for the second quarter when Ford unleashes its 132kW/240Nm 1.6 turbo Fiesta. A few months before that, Ford will also launch its facelifted Fiesta range, which includes a 1-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol.
Having given us a small taste of the old Kuga, Ford is bringing the new one here in 2013, complete with a wider engine range that includes a 1.6 turbopetrol and 2-litre turbodiesel.
Fiesta-based crossover, due early in the year, will take the fight straight to compacts like the Nissan Juke and Kia Soul. Part of its armoury is an 89kW 1-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol.
The quirky Hyundai Veloster was meant to arrive in 2012, but better late than never as its expected arrival date moves to the second quarter of 2013. Initially it will be powered by a 1.6-litre normally aspirated petrol engine.
The all-new, and locally-built, Isuzu KB is set to arrive in January. As before it will offer a wide range of derivatives, but with added sophistication as it takes the battle to new Ranger and Amarok.
The first Jaguar two-seater since the iconic E-Type will warm us up this winter with its sleek styling and supercharged performance in 250kW or 280kW V6 and 364kW V8 guises. On sale July.
Kia will be hoping to give the Corolla a hard time when its bigger, sleeker and more spacious Cerato arrives during the first half of the year.
Not just aggressively presented, the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster is shoved along by a hairstyle-destroying 515kW 6.5-litre V12.
All-new from the ground up and 420kg lighter, the alloy-bodied Range Rover will arrive with much pomp and ceremony in late January. Choose between a 250kW/700Nm V8 diesel and 375kW/625Nm V8 petrol.
If you have ever wanted a crossover that thinks it is a coupe, the Mini Paceman will be available from the second quarter as either a 90kW Cooper or a 135kW Cooper S, with a 160kW JCW likely to follow later.
Gorgeous new Maserati Quattroporte, due around midyear, is a proper sports sedan with 390kW of V8 turbo clout, yet it also offers generous rear-seat accommodation for those that want Jeeves to do the driving.
Brand new Mazda6 sedan brings SkyActiv fuel-saving technology and the Kodo design language to the large sedan segment. No confirmed launch dates yet, but it is expected to reach SA during 2013.
Far sportier than its stubby predecessor the new A-Class could light up the premium hatch segment when it lands in SA around April. Turbo engines are the order of the day, the initial flagship boasting 155kW. Expect a potent A45 AMG later on.
A significant exterior facelift, new entry engine and a glut of additional driver aids highlight the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which will grace SA shores around midyear.
Armed with a 206kW/400Nm turbo heart, the first units of the new Opel Astra OPC have just arrived in South Africa to fend off the Megane RS in the hot hatch wars.
We could see a shake-up in the small hatch market early in the year when Renault releases its all-new Clio, with charismatic styling and efficient three-cylinder turbo power. There is also a hot hatch fighter in 147kW 1.6 turbo RS form.
The Dacia-sourced Renault Duster is poised to provide an affordable SUV option when it arrives in South Africa during 2013.
The new Subaru Forester will reach SA shores in March 2013, complete with a five-model line-up that includes 109kW 2.0, 126kW 2.5 and 186kW 2.0 turbo petrol engines.
Arriving early in the year, the new Toyota Auris brings a sharper look and a more refined package.
Longer, wider and lower than before, the new Toyota RAV4 is said to provide a more entertaining driving experience, but 110kW is about as exciting as the power curve gets. Its SA arrival is scheduled for the first half of the year.
Its design has evolved subtly but the lighter and more sophisticated Volkswagen Golf is built on a totally new platform and has plenty new toys. ETA, late January.
The road-going Golf GTI that is set to hit the streets in 2013 should be just about identical to the concept you see here, which is powered by a 162kW/350Nm 2-litre turbopetrol.
Published Dec 19, 2012
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The economic storm clouds are far from gone, but that hasn't stopped the car companies from plotting another launch frenzy for the year ahead.
2013 will bring an avalanche of new products from all ends of the spectrum, from hatchbacks to sports cars and everything in between.
We've chosen 30 of the coolest new products that we know are heading our way during the year so start scribbling down that wish list of yours as you join us for a look ahead, at what's going to be a year to remember.
Take a peek at them in the gallery above, or click on the links below for more detail: