Top Six Significant Cars Coming to South Africa in 2023
With the South African car market still in a recovery mode after the compounded challenges of the past 24 months, each motoring brand will be hoping for fewer supply chain delays and product postponements heading into 2023. We look at some noteworthy cars scheduled to be launched in SA in the coming months.
1. Toyota Crown
While a South African audience may not be familiar with Toyota’s Crown nameplate, introduced in 1955, it is in fact the longest-running product portfolio of this Japanese brand’s history. Through 15 generations, to date, think of the Crown as being a more luxuriously appointed, larger proportioned Camry.
Historically competing in the premium sedan segment in markets including Japan, from 2023 Toyota will lend the Crown nameplate to a sleek new raised ride height crossover package. Still with a luxury slant, the new Crown measures nearly 5-metres in length and boasts 147 mm worth of ground clearance.
Available exclusively with a petrol/electric hybrid powertrain and permanent all-wheel drive, expect the crown to arrive in South Africa in the first half of 2023.
2. Chery Omoda 5
Highly fashionable this season, the Chery Omoda 5 is another sleek-looking SUV package set to arrive in South Africa in early 2023.
While South Africans have shown keen interest in this Chinese brand’s current range of Tiggo-badged models (4 Pro, 7 Pro and 8 Pro), via its new flagship Omoda nameplate, Chery is set to introduce products that will offer an even greater focus on luxury and premium feel when compared with the current Tiggo portfolio.
Boasting the brand’s newest exterior design language, the Omoda 5 also features a pair of curved display screens housing both the car’s instrument cluster and various infotainment functions.
At launch, the newest Chery will likely feature the same 1.6-litre turbopetrol engine and double-clutch transmission currently featured in the Tiggo 8 Pro range.
3. BMW iX1
A brand currently ticking a lot of boxes when it comes to global product introductions and planning is BMW. While the brand will use 2023 to introduce exciting, driver-focused cars like the new turbopetrol-powered, rear-wheel drive M2 coupe, the significant news in terms of its well-documented push towards zero emissions will be the arrival of the all-new iX1 in South Africa.
Sharing its platform with the rest of the modern third generation X1 range, the iX1 features a 64.7kWh battery that feeds a pair of electric motors, one positioned on each axle, front and rear. Including 230 kW worth of power, the first all-electric X1 is said to offer an operating range of up to 438 km.
The iX1 will compete locally against the likes of the Volvo XC40 Recharge portfolio, as well as the recently introduced Mercedes-Benz EQA.
4. Renault Captur
A restless Renault brand has been one of the hardest hit local importers when it comes to supply chain interruptions and product introduction postponements. While the already available fifth generation Clio is widely regarded as one of the best vehicles this French manufacturer has built to date, the inherent quality of this hatchback should make for a particularly impressive new Captur offering – the compact SUV based on the Clio.
Renault South Africa will be especially keen to finally launch the new Captur here, a vehicle it will hope can challenge monthly sales of the similarly proportioned, ever popular VW T-Cross.
The new Captur will feature the same suitably refined and efficient 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbopetrol motor as offering in the Clio.
5. Volvo C40 Recharge
A brand that via its current portfolio of svelte SUV offerings continues to win favours in the South African market, Volvo’s respective drive towards electrification has been led by a combination of impressive petrol/electric hybrid offerings, as well as the quirky yet potent characteristics of its all-electric XC40 range.
Including incentives like a complementary home wall charging station and the use of a petrol-powered Volvo for those still weary of covering longer, holiday-bound distances in an all-electric vehicle, Volvo’s next significant import will be the C40 Recharge.
This raised ride height crossover package features a 78kWh battery and is powered by two electric motors, front and rear. With a claimed operating range of up to 450 km, this fashion-forward, 300 kW boulevard cruiser is also capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.7 seconds.
6. Ford Ranger Raptor
Paying homage to the hugely popular F150 Raptor package that regularly makes headlines in the US market, the first Ford Ranger Raptor model, has since its introduction into South Africa in 2019, proved similarly sought-after.
Noteworthy for its flared wheel arches compared with the standard Ranger double-cab, as well the fitment of a rally-ready suspension upgrade, the appeal of the all-new Raptor package has been heightened with the inclusion of a 292 kW, turbocharged V6 engine.
Scheduled to arrive within the first quarter of 2023, being based on the all-new Ranger double-cab, the new Raptor similarly benefits from a new and improved cabin layout that includes a large, portrait-style infotainment touchscreen, as well as newfound levels of overall comfort.