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Porsche 911 GT2 RS
The fastest Porsche ever unleashed on the road: what’s not to look forward to? Teaming the best bits of the 911 GT3 RS and the 911 Turbo, the GT2 aims to tame the race track and bring some mongrel back to the 911 formula. Early impressions are that it nails the brief … quickly. Photo: Supplied -
Rolls-Royce Phantom
With Teflon-coated onboard umbrellas that have been crash tested the Phantom doesn’t overlook much with details. The V12-powerred million-dollar-plus limo also packs in loads of sound deadening and foam-filled 22-inch tyres in an effort to create the most opulent and luxurious machine on four wheels. Photo: Supplied -
BMW M5
It’s all change for BMW’s ultimate executive express, the M5. While the twin-turbo V8 remains (now with 441kW) it drives through all four wheels, enough to blast it to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Plus there’s a new body and spacious interior. Photo: Supplied -
Alpine A110
It’s a brand best remembered from the 1960s and ’70s but Renault-owned Alpine is making a 21st century comeback with the A110. With a circa-$100K price tag and lightweight body powered by a 185kW turbocharged engine it has the Porsche Boxster in its crosshairs. Photo: Supplied -
Lexus LS
Bold inside and out, the fifth generation of Lexus’s flagship limousine is more convincing than ever. It also ushers in a new era for Lexus, with a twin-turbo V6 replacing the V8 in the previous car. Photo: Supplied -
Lamborghini Urus
It’s shaping up to be the most luxurious and spacious Lamborghini ever, albeit with a healthy dose of Aventador-inspired shock factor. Powered by a Porsche-designed V8 the $390K Urus promises to shake up the top end of the SUV market. Photo: Supplied -
Bentley Continental GT
Smoothed lines and a bolder face characterise the third iteration of Bentley’s elegant two-door. With a 6.0-litre W12 engine it’s all about brisk luxury cruising – in style. Photo: Supplied -
Audi A8
Audi’s largest and most luxurious model gets a sleeker look and the most advanced semi-autonomous tech of any car on the market. The AI Traffic Jam Pilot takes control of steering, brakes and throttle below 60km/h, but only on dual-carriageways. Next trick is getting the tech approved for Australia. Photo: Supplied -
Ford Mustang update
In the two years it’s been Down Under the Mustang has been an unexpected sales hit. Around mid-year an updated Mustang arrives, complete with a 10-speed automatic and more powerful 5.0-litre. Design tweaks freshen the classic muscle car look and there’s more active safety kit. Photo: Supplied -
Ferrari Portofino
Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne thought the convertible California was undercooked. The Portofino is the car he hopes will end any concerns for people looking at Ferrari’s most affordable model. The formula is unchanged, but it’s a lot sexier courtesy of extra curves and a prominent air vent down each side. Plus the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 has been beefed up to make 441kW. Photo: Supplied -
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
A $135K Jeep that’s not interested in getting its tyres dirty? Better believe it, although the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk isn’t your average Jeep. With a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 belting out 522kW it’s the most powerful SUV ever produced. And one of the wildest, able to sprint to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds – making plenty of noise along the way. Photo: Supplied -
Holden Colorado SportsCat by HSV
It’s an HSV, but not as we know it, mainly because the SportsCat doesn’t improvement on the performance of the Holden Colorado ute it’s based on. But it does get chunkier tyres and revised suspension for better on-road manners and more off-road nous. Photo: Supplied -
Porsche Cayenne
New underneath and new on top: the third generation of Porsche’s largest SUV promises big changes. Arriving mid-year, the all-new Cayenne also gets the new-generation V6 engines as well as plug-in hybrid options. There’s also rear-wheel steering for the first time, part of a handling package said to bring it closer than ever (relatively speaking!) to the legendary 911. Photo: Supplied -
Aston Martin Vantage
At $300K the Vantage is the most affordable way to get into an Aston Martin – and one of the most tempting. The ground-up design not only introduces a wider, flatter two-seat body and AMG-sourced V8 engine but also evolves the stunning Aston Martin design beautifully. Photo: Supplied -
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The first SUV from Italian brand Alfa Romeo comes at a crucial time for the brand as it steps its renaissance up a gear. Key to its appeal is sumptuous styling as well as a range of sporty engines, from the sensible four-cylinder turbos through to the Ferrari-inspired 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 in the Quadrifoglio. Photo: Supplied -
Jaguar i-Pace
Hot on the heels of the compact (and thoroughly mainstream) E-Pace, Jaguar will unleash its most radical SUV, the all-electric i-Pace. Arriving late in the year, the i-Pace promises to take the fight to Tesla with some clever design touches and a circa-500km range from its 90kWh battery. Photo: Supplied -
Volvo XC40
Arriving at the lower end of the prestige market, the XC40 has distinctively chunky styling and a long list of active safety kit which comes with the option of three- and four-cylinder engines. Photo: Supplied -
Mercedes-Benz CLS
2018 will be the year we’ll see the all-new A-Class, but before then there’s the third generation CLS. Utilising the good bits of the E-Class, the CLS improves on that with a sleeker body and sportier demeanour. Photo: Supplied -
Mazda6 turbo
It’ll be the fastest, most luxurious Mazda on the market courtesy of a complete interior refresh and the addition of a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine. Producing 170kW, the engine promises plenty of effortless acceleration and cruising, although it’s more mid-level luxury than performance hero. Photo: Supplied -
Genesis G70
It’s not so much the G70 but the arrival of Genesis as a brand that is the biggest news for the aspirational Hyundai-owned marque. The G70 gets the option of a punchy twin-turbo V6 and a circa-$60K start price. Photo: Supplied -
Land Rover Discovery SVX
Faster on-road, more capable off-road: that’s the sales pitch with the flagship version of the mighty Disco. Whereas rivals have ditched any off-road aspirations with their go-fast models, Land Rover engineers have ramped it up big time with the SVX, adding more ground clearance, tougher tyres, additional underbody protection and unique bumpers. Photo: Supplied -
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
It’s shaping up to be more front row at Flemington (or the polo) than genuine bush basher, but Rolls-Royce insists its first SUV, the Cullinan, will be “very capable” off-road. However, the real focus for what is shaping up to be the most expensive – expect it to be somewhere north of $700,000 – will be on-road luxury. Expect plenty of Phantom thinking in its sleek SUV skin. Photo: Supplied -
Mercedes-Benz X-Class
The ute market is set to head upmarket in 2018 with the April arrival of Mercedes-Benz’s first dual-cab. Sharing much of its underbody with the Nissan Navara (it will come out of the Nissan factory), the X-Class will also get auto emergency braking (a first for the class) and the option of a V6 diesel engine, all wrapped in a stylish body. Photo: Supplied -
Hyundai i30 N
The N is very different to anything Hyundai has dished up previously, mainly because it injects some serious pace into the i30 hatch. With extensive development from a new performance division headed by former BMW chief Albert Biermann, the N promises genuine hot hatch excitement. Photo: Supplied -
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The fastest Porsche, the most extravagant Rolls-Royce and a Lamborghini you can take to Australia's red centre: 2018 is shaping up to be a corker when it comes to fast and luxurious metal.
Unsurprisingly it's SUVs leading the luxury charge, with three brands – Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo and Rolls-Royce - set to unveil their first tilt at the booming category that's shifted the makeup of the prestige market.
Considering more luxury SUVs are sold than sports or passenger cars, it's an obvious choice, no matter how much of a stretch it may seem for each brand.
Ute beauty
If that's not enough, 2018 will also see more in the way of upmarket utes.
As well as the long-awaited Ford Ranger Raptor there's a Holden Colorado with HSV genes - and the first ute from a luxury brand, the X-Class from Mercedes-Benz.
Next year we'll also see the arrival (or return) of at least two new brands – Alpine and Genesis – each trying to muscle-in on existing turf.
It won't be easy for the newcomers, especially for Hyundai's luxury brand, Genesis; but there's big dollars and big aspirations behind the attempt to take a slice of record luxury sales.
Despite the splintering of the prestige market, traditional models also rule.
From the latest iteration of BMW's ballistic M5 to the most advanced Audi ever, the all-new A8.
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Or you could hold out for the updated version of the Ford Mustang muscle car.
As well as fresh metal from Ferrari and Rolls-Royce it's set the scene for one of the most exciting years for new cars ever.
Scroll through the gallery above to see the best heavy metal coming this way.
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