A new calendar year is rushing up fast, promising another banquet of new luxury/performance stunners.

The methodology of the motor industry is to keep upping the lust factor, emphasising the achingly irresistible and glossing over the awkward impracticality of many.

That's why humans have emotions. It's working a treat. Sales here of luxury brands are currently up 18 per cent year to date as more Australians are seduced by the technology, performance, and wow elements abundant in $100,000-plus cars and, increasingly, SUVs.

The early signs are that 2017 will have even more choices with a wave of new premium models heading our way, with the big top-end players particularly active – Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi have many new seducers, along with Porsche, Lexus, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Maserati.

Even at the rarefied self-indulgent ultra-premium level of the market, we're seeing a greater environmental empathy and ever-lower fuel efficiency targets, with an array of rock-your-socks electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids high-end players.

To this backdrop, here then are the new models that we're hanging out to drive in 2017.

Tesla Model S P100D

The latest iteration of Tesla's familiar pure electric Model S saloon, designated P100D (for its 100kWh battery, and dual engines), has the aptly named Ludicrous mode that transforms it into the fastest-accelerating production car currently on sale with a hard-to-digest zero-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds. It is priced around $250,000, drive away.

Whilst driving a Tesla can be a little like wielding a very large iMac computer, the all-wheel drive Model S P100D has virtuous practicality with four doors, seating for up to five adults and generous cargo capacity. The Model S P100D also sees off range anxiety with Tesla claiming up to 613 kilometres between charges. No exhaust nasties or noise, either. In Tesla-land, at least, silence is golden.

Audi R8 V10 Spyder

An array of new gear from Audi's has our hormones jumping. There's the trendy compact Q2 SUV and a new mid-sized Q5 sometime in 2017, but the arrivals that ring our bell are the R8 V10 Spyder supercar, the all-new A5 Coupe and livelier S5 derivative, and the uber-swift TT RS coupe and roadster hero twins.

Bold statistics confirm the performance potential of the glorious-looking R8 drop top - 397 kW, zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, top speed 318 km/h, all out in the open air. The pure discharge of sound from the 5.2-litre V10 Spyder is also impossible for occupants and anyone within earshot to ignore. Price should be close to $400,000.

Mercedes E-Class Coupe

Mercedes-Benz continues its crusade to create just the right model for every multi-millionaire on the planet, launching no fewer than nine premium products locally next year, including five AMG-badged belters and a revised S Class.

The Mercedes rival for BMW's 6 Series two-door has been spied out in camo apparel undergoing final testing in Europe. Despite its disguise, the new E-Class Coupe is unmistakably muscled-up with a curvy tush and steeply raked windscreen. Riding on the same platform as the saloon, it will offer generous cabin space and a large boot. The engine line-up should be similar to the sedan, meaning turbocharged four- and six-cylinder petrol variants, and turbo diesel engines. An AMG-tuned version may materialise later.

BMW 5 Series

BMW will introduce a mix bag of tricks in 2017, industriously continuing to conjure up a long-line of tech-savvy products designed to meet the demands of world with an increasingly green-tinged conscience, whilst simultaneously satisfying its traditional customer base of driving enthusiasts.

The most important to BMW is a new 5 Series midsize express, loaded with the latest technology but retaining high-level dynamics we expect out of Munich. For those who hanker to get to the office faster, a new-generation M5 will arrive later amidst a brace of other M vehicles of different body styles. Yes, sedans, coupes and sport activity vehicles (SAVs).

Continuing to expand too is BMW's fast-growing iPerformance range of plug-in hybrid models with no loss of the pleasure for those who enjoy spirited driving.

Honda NSX

Honda may not be a dedicated premium brand, but we can't shun one of the most keenly anticipated new performance-luxury models of next year, the hybrid-propelled NSX supercar coupe. The striking NSX is thrust along by a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission, as well as two electric motors at the front (one in each wheel) and a rear-mounted electric motor to negate turbo lag.

The original all-aluminium NSX in 1991 was a serious game changer, forcing Ferrari, Lamborghini and even Porsche to lift driveability, reliability and customer service. The new NSX's dynamic brilliance, clever powertrain and scintillating performance demands respect. But will Australian supercar devotees pay a staggering $420,000 plus on-road costs for a Honda?

Lexus LC 500

Another of Japan's sexy new luxury-performance cars for next year is the four-seat Lexus LC 500 to be launched locally in May as a serious rival to the BMW 6 Series and Mercedes-Benz SL range. Its aggressive and angular snout is a visual cue to what we can expect under the bonnet of the flagship coupe.

There's a choice of mean or green – a 5.0-litre V8 and a 3.5-litre performance hybrid. The LC 500 comes with a ground-breaking (for a luxury car) 10-speed automatic – Lexus eschews dual-clutch gearboxes – while the LC 500h hybrid has the latest multi-stage hybrid power system hooked up to a six-step CVT gearbox and a four-speed conventional auto which combine to simulate 10 speeds. Prices will probably nestle close to $250,000.

Porsche Panamera

After a sip of truth serum, owners rarely admitted to loving the styling of the original Panamera, But all agreed it drove in the manner of a true Porsche. A rather large, spacious Porsche, with four doors. Due to go to Australian customers in February, the new Panamera is longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor and somehow way more attractive, with a lower roofline that swishes back toward the rear haunches in an easy, pleasing sweep, reflecting the design language of the 911.

More than ever combining the performance of a genuine sports car with the plush comfort of a luxury saloon, the second-gen GT saloon gets three more powerful and comparatively efficient new biturbo direct injection engines – 324kW V6, 404kW V8 and 310kW/850Nm diesel. All are offered with a permanent all-wheel drive system, a new eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) and clever suspension.

Pricing: Panamera 4S is $304,200, the 4S Diesel $312,100 and the V8 Panamera Turbo $376,900.

Tesla Model X

Elon Musk's first crossover SUV, the Tesla Model X, arrives early in the new year and answers a growing clamour. Tesla claims that in the $100,000 segment, demand for SUVs is more than five times greater than for regular luxury passenger saloons.

The four levels of the Model X to be offered give different levels of battery capacity, power and acceleration, the pick of the bunch zooming to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds. Range is between 467-542 kilometres. Model X, which is priced from around $130,000 drive away, can be configured to accept up to seven people, with excellent cargo space.

Maserati Levante

Maserati's much-anticipated key arrival in 2017 is the Levante, the Italian marque's first-ever SUV, and it hasn't crept into the segment softly. The big, serenely quiet luxo utility cruiser will be sold in three distinct models - entry Levante, Levante Sport and Levante Luxury.

Unusually the Levante is exclusively diesel for now, with all three powered by the same 202kW 3.0 litre turbo diesel V6. Price starts at $139,990 with the base version, jumping a further 20K for the richer-presented Levante Sport and Levante Luxury.

Rolls-Royce V12 Wraith Black Badge

Local fashion, music and IT millionaires are on high alert. Next year, Rolls-Royce's edgy and dark new V12 Wraith Black Badge coupe – will be available locally aimed quite specifically at younger hipsters with money abundant. Will it change the crusty perceptions of Rolls-Royce?

Executive Style recently snaffled the first (and thus far only) drive by an Australian outlet of the Wraith Black Badge, noting a muscular, athletic character accompanying obligatory extravagance. Yours for $745,000 drive away.

Scroll through the gallery above for a look at the latest premium models coming our way.