Of course, internal combustion engined cars are still coming on strong and they are not going to fade away anytime soon. More and more of them will be offered to the public in the ensuing years as they play alongside their electric counterparts.
There will be more than 10 car models coming next year but we cherry-picked 10 Malaysians can expect to see launched and on local roads throughout 2023.
1. BMW XM
With online pre-booking already starting from October, the first-ever BMW XM is ready to show up in 2023.
The sportiest SUV from BMW is estimated to be priced at around RM1.4mil. The 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine makes 360kW or 489hp and a maximum torque of 650Nm. It is paired with a 194hp/279Nm electric motor for a system output of 653hp and 800Nm.
As standard, the XM features adaptive LED headlights, BMW Curved Display, 23-inch wheels and M Aerodynamics Package and M High-Gloss Shadow Line.
The X90 will look like the Okavango albeit with some localisation differences.
2. Proton X90
The X90 will be the 7-seater SUV Proton is missing. Not for long. The X90 is set to arrive in 2023 to plug the gap in its SUV range. Already reports and photos of the X90 prototype in camouflage have been spotted undergoing trails on Malaysian roads.
More space, more comfort and better connectivity are selling points for the upcoming SUV as Proton seeks to move up the ladder.
China's Geely Haoyue is the base for the X90, and it's expected to have a locally assembled turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine as seen in the X50 and the latest X70 but retuned to cater to a bigger vehicle.
It's plausible that Proton could offer a more premium variant that is propelled by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder 48V hybrid system making 187hp/300Nm, like the Geely Okavango (overseas name for Haoyue) sold in the Philippines.
3. smart #1 EV
The new smart is no longer the small city runabout we used to know but has transformed into a 5-seat SUV under a Geely-Mercedes-Benz joint venture.
Built on a Chinese electric platform, the #1 drives with a rear-mounted electric motor of 272hp and its 66 kWh battery musters a 440km range (WLTP). It can be charged with 22 kW at the wallbox and up to 150 kW with a DC charger. The car can be juiced up to 80% charge in under 30 minutes. Top speed is 180kph.
It comes with a frunk and features an all-new fully networked infotainment system and a digital car key. Newly formed Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET) will handle the distribution of the #1 in Malaysia and Thailand once it launches in early Q4 2023.
4. Volvo EX90
Volvo bills the EX90 as a highly advanced computer on wheels, as it is designed to get better over time, thanks to regular over-the-air software updates.
It’s a versatile, stylish family car with modern proportions, combined with cutting-edge technology in core computing, connectivity and electrification to optimise safety, efficiency and aesthetics.
The seven-seater is the safest ever Volvo and is also first from the brand that’s hardware-ready for unsupervised driving in the future.
Range is 600km (WLTP) and it charges from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes.
The initially available twin-motor all-wheel drive version is powered by a 111kWh battery and two permanent magnet electric motors, together delivering in its performance version 380 kW/517 hp and 910 Nm of torque.
5. Volkswagen ID.4
Two right-hand drive units of the VW ID.4 were showcased at Volkswagen Fest 2022 in October, heralding the electric car model would be arriving next year.
The ID.4 on show at the time was the Pro Performance variant, suggesting this is the example that will go on sale in Malaysia. This particular ID.4 packs a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery that's good for around 520km. A 201hp electric motor drives the rear wheels and the car can sprint from 0-100kph in 8.5s, and onwards to a top speed of 160kph.
The ID.4 supports 11-kW AC charging and up to 125-kW DC fast charging that reportedly allows the car to recover 320km in 30 mins. It will still be a car for the rich, as it is expected to be priced at the Hyundai Ioniq 5/Kia EV6 levels. And you know how much these Korean cars cost.
6. Chery Omoda 5
The Omoda 5 is Chery's new generation sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was developed as a global model to meet international demand and gain entry into the European Union (EU) and right-hand drive markets.
Powered by a 1.6-litre turbo direct injection engine paired to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission or a 1.5-litre turbo engine with a continuously variable transmission, the Omoda 5 is expected to add excitement to the popular B-Segment SUV now dominated by Japanese models.
Aimed at the young generation buyers with its technology-rich features and trendy design, the Omoda 5 comes with a distinctive oversized one-piece star drill grille, coupe-like rear and an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with 16 functions, including adaptive cruise control, to further maximise occupant safety and comfort.
Also featured are 20.5-inch dual screen dashboard design, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice control, 360 around view camera and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The vehicle was recently awarded a full five-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).
7. Ora Grand Cat EV
The GWM Ora Grand Cat four-door electric coupe will be an ideal follow-up to the Chinese brand's Good Cat hatchback which had received good launch response from the public last month.
Being a bigger, better equipped and appointed compared with the Good Cat, expect higher levels of sophistiscation and comfort.
The EV is powered by two electric motors - one at each axle - to deliver a total output of 402hp and 680Nm of torque for a sports car like 0-100kph acceleration of 4.3 seconds.
Driving range is said to be around 550km which should be more than enough as a daily car with sporty performance.
8. Toyota bZ4X EV
The all-new Toyota bZ4X will be UMW Toyota Motor's first battery electric vehicle (BEV) and joins the company's eco-friendly mobility inititative that has been spearhead by its petrol/electric hybrid line-up.
Launched in Japan early this year, the futuristic-looking bZ4X is built on dedicated e-TNGA BEV platform to deliver a smooth and premium driving performance.
The electric sports utility vehicle comes in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options and has a single-charge driving range between 345km and 411km depending on the powertrain.
A 0-100kph sprint can be achieved in 7.5 seconds.
9. Audi Q8 e-tron EV
As the apex sports utility vehicle model in Audi's line-up, the Q8 e-tron is offered with two dual-motor powertrain choices of 250kW/664Nm with range of up to 491km and 300kW/664Nm with range up to 582km, and a third three-motor option that unleashes 370kW/973Nm of torque with range up to 494km.
The all-electric vehicle featuring enhanced aerodynamics, uses the characteristic Singleframe mask and inverted grille while ushering in the new corporate identity with a two-dimensional design of the four rings.
The luxury model comes standard with an air-spring suspension with variable vehicle height adjustment up to 76mm for controlled shock absorption.
In addition to the standard Audi virtual cockpit with full HD resolution and voice control, the Q8 e-tron also gets two large high-resolution displays – the top one with a 10.1-inch diagonal and the bottom one with an 8.6-inch diagonal – that replace nearly all conventional switches and knobs.
It also gets some 40 driver assistance systems supported by up to five radar sensors, five cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors to provide environmental information.
10. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
Chery's flagship Tiggo 8 Pro seven-seater sports utility vehicle (SUV) comes well-specified to take the fight to similar offerings from traditional brands from Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Aside from 1.6-litre turbo direct-injected efficient engine with 197PS and 290Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch type with three drive modes and two steering modes.
Its impressive array of equipment includes a horizontal 12.3-inch instrument panel, an 8-inch climate control screen and a 10.25-inchfloating infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and fully automatic dual-zone air conditioner with N95-grade air purifying system.
Other items are six airbags, Traction Control (TCS), Roll Stability Control (RSC), ISOFIX anchorage points, revers camera, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent High-beam Control (IHC), Blind Spot Monitoring, Front Collision Warning and Emergency Brake Override System (BOW).
In South Africa, the Tiggo 8 Pro is offered with a staggering 10-year/1,000,000km warranty.
