New Car Calendar

Here's everything you can expect to see touch down on Australian shores in 2021, and when!

Drive Team
11:37, 01 January 2021

The year 2020 was one that many would like to forget, and the automotive industry is no exception.

Lockdowns and economic slowdowns brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic translated exactly as you'd expect for Australia's new-car sales, with a staggering 48.5 per cent sales decline in April, contributing to an overall market down 13.7 per cent by the end of the year.

Despite the sales slowdowns and production delays caused by COVID-19, 2020 was still a relatively strong year in terms of new model launches, with highlights from the year ranging from the rapid Ford Fiesta ST and Mercedes-AMG A45 S hot hatches in the first half of the year, to the new-generation Isuzu D-Max and Kia Sorento toward the year's end.

This new year of 2021 promises to be equally exciting, with this year set to host the launches of the controversial BMW M3 and M4, crucial new-generation Nissan Qashqai, and hybrid versions of the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe SUVs.

However, much of the 2021 calendar remains unclear at this stage, with many new models due over the next 12 months yet to be revealed, or still to be locked in for our market. We expect any models you see below to arrive as described.

We'll be updating this story weekly as new information comes to light, be it the reveal of a new model, or simply the announcement of its Australian launch date.

LAST UPDATE: 5 April 2021


Below are the models we expect to launch inside a specific quarter of the year, as advised by each brand.

LAUNCHED: First quarter

Aston Martin DBX (revealed) – on sale now

Audi Q5 facelift – on sale now

BMW 128ti – on sale now

BMW 4 Series Convertible (revealed) – available to order

BMW X5 M, X6 M Competition First Edition – available now

BMW M3 sedan, M4 Coupe – on sale now

Citroen C3 facelift – on sale now

Ford Ranger XL Tradie – on sale now

Honda Odyssey update – on sale now

Hyundai Kona facelift – on sale now

Hyundai Nexo – on sale now

Iveco Daily – on sale now

Jaguar XF facelift – on sale now

Jaguar XE facelift (pricing) – on sale now

Jaguar E-Pace facelift (pricing) – on sale now

UPDATED, Apr 5: Jaguar F-Pace facelift – on sale now

Jeep Gladiator Sport S (pricing) – on sale now

Jeep Wrangler MY21 – on sale now

Kia Carnival (revealed) – on sale now

Kia Stonic – on sale now

LDV Deliver 9 auto – on sale now

Lexus UX, NX and RX Crafted Editions – available to order now

Lexus LS facelift – on sale now

Lexus LX570 S – on sale now

Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante MY21 updates – on sale now

Mazda 6 update – on sale now

Mazda CX-3 update (pricing) – on sale now

Mazda CX-5 update – on sale now

Mazda CX-8 update – on sale now

Mazda CX-9 update – on sale now

Mazda MX-5 update (pricing) – on sale now

Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe – on sale now

Mercedes-Benz E350 – on sale now

MG HS PHEV – on sale now

MG HS Excite X, Essence X AWD – on sale now

Mini Countryman Boardwalk Edition – available to order

Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition – available to order now

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport MY21 update – on sale now

Nissan X-Trail MY21 update (pricing) – on sale now

Peugeot 3008, 5008 facelifts – on sale now

UPDATED, Apr 5: Porsche 718 GT4, GTS 4.0, Spyder PDK automatic option – available to order

Porsche Taycan (pricing) – on sale now

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid MY21 battery upgrades (revealed) – on sale now

Range Rover (full-size) MY21 updates – on sale now

Range Rover Velar MY21 – on sale now

Renault Koleos update – on sale now

Renault Megane RS facelift (details) – on sale now

Skoda Fabia Run-Out Edition – on sale now

Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Monte Carlo, Limited Edition (pricing) – on sale now, following delays

Skoda Scala (pricing) – on sale now following delays

UPDATED, Apr 5: SsangYong Rexton – on sale now

Subaru Outback (details) – on sale now

Tesla Model 3 update – on sale now

Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series Horizon special edition – on sale now

Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI – on sale now


Second quarter

Audi SQ2 facelift – May

Audi SQ5 TDI facelift – April

Ferrari Roma

Ford Mustang Mach 1

UPDATED, Apr 5: Genesis G70 facelift

Genesis GV70

UPDATED, Apr 5: Haval Jolion – first examples en route to dealers, full range due later in the year.

UPDATED, Apr 5: Haval H6 – April

Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

Hyundai i20 N – expected April or May

Hyundai i30 N hatch facelift – expected May or June

UPDATED, Apr 5: Hyundai Kona Electric facelift – April

Hyundai Tucson

Kia Cerato – May arrival, reveal expected imminently

Kia Niro – order books open in Q2

Kia Sorento hybrid

Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque P300e PHEVs

Jaguar F-Pace SVR facelift – first deliveries expected April

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Willys Edition – April

UPDATED, Apr 5: Mazda MX-30 mild-hybrid – on sale now

Mercedes-Benz EQA – order books open April, first deliveries June

Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

Mercedes-Benz S-Class – order books open in March

Nissan Leaf e+

Peugeot 308 mild facelift

Porsche 718 Boxster 25 Years – April

Renault Captur (new gen) – first deliveries April

Skoda Octavia (new gen) – late April

UPDATED, Apr 8: Skoda Superb 162TSI – full details later in April

NEW, Apr 5: Suzuki Swift 100 Year Anniversary Edition – order books open in April

Toyota Camry facelift – April

UPDATED, Apr 5: Toyota GR Yaris Rallye limited edition – first 200 arrive in April (initially March)

UPDATED, Apr 5: Toyota Kluger – June

UPDATED, Apr 5: Toyota Mirai – April

Volkswagen Amarok W580 – April

Volkswagen Golf Mk8 hatch – May

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 – May 24

Volkswagen Passat full range – 162TSI sedan, wagon and Alltrack here in April, 206TSI coming May or June

Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI CityLife – April

Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI and 147TDI – late May

Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI – June

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 132TSI 4Motion – May

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Wolfsburg Edition – June


Third quarter

Audi E-Tron GT

NEW, Apr 5: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Hyundai i30 Sedan N

Hyundai Kona N

Hyundai Staria – by the end of August

Jeep Grand Cherokee L – understood (though yet to be officially confirmed) to be arriving in August or September

Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid

Land Rover Defender V8 – July

Maserati MC20

McLaren Artura

Mercedes-Benz G400d – July

Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 – August

Mitsubishi Outlander (new generation) – by end of 2021 confirmed, September or October expected

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo – only 4S and Turbo grades bound for Australia

Skoda Octavia 140TSI

Volkswagen Arteon liftback and Shooting Brake wagon

Volkswagen Golf wagon – July

Volvo B-series mild-hybrid petrol engines – July 2021, replacing conventional petrol and diesel engines

Volvo XC40 Recharge EV – August

Volvo XC60 facelift


Fourth quarter

Abarth 595 Pista

Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition – 18 available to order worldwide, first deliveries fourth quarter, 2021

Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition

BMW iX – pricing to be released mid-2021, first deliveries in the fourth quarter

BMW M4 Competition x Kith

UPDATED, Apr 5: Chevrolet Corvette – production commences in Q4

Ford Escape plug-in hybrid – late 2021

Kia Sportage – global unveiling due before July, Australian launch in Q4.

Lexus UX300e – November

Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Ram 1500 TRX – order books now open

NEW, Apr 5: Skoda Kodiaq facelift – local arm hopes to have cars in Australia before the end of year, though a local launch could be pushed to first quarter, 2022.

NEW, Apr 5: SsangYong Musso facelift – Australian arrival understood to occur in the fourth quarter.

Subaru WRX – due by the end of 2021, likely late in the year


Below are the models we expect to launch in either the first or second half of the year, as advised by each brand. More specific timing has not yet been offered for these models.

First half

None, as all models initially scheduled for the first half have since had more specific timing confirmed.


Mid-year

Alpina B3 – first examples delivered directly to customers late in 2020, more stock due on showroom floors mid-year

Audi Q2 facelift

BMW iX3

BMW M5 CS – just 20 for Australia, all sold out

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss

Hyundai Sonata N Line – initially fourth quarter of 2020, then delayed to the first quarter of 2021, and now mid-2021.

Ram 2500 Heavy Duty


Second Half

Audi S3

Audi Q5 Sportback

Audi SQ5 Sportback TDI

Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Citroen C4

Isuzu MU-X – expected mid-to-late-2021

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

Mazda MX-30 all-electric – initially mid-year, now expected early in the second half of 2021.

Mini Hatch and Convertible facelift

Peugeot 2008 GT

Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid – initially first half, now delayed to the second half.

Peugeot 508 plug-in hybrid

Polestar 2

Porsche 911 GT3

Renault Arkana – replacing the slow-selling Kadjar

Subaru BRZ – confirmed for Australia, expected (though not confirmed) in the second half of 2021

Subaru Levorg (new generation) – expected in the second half of 2021, with WRX power (and name)

Toyota GR Yaris – second batch of cars due to arrive in the second half of 2021

Volkswagen Amarok and Crafter Seikel off-road accessories

Volkswagen Caddy

Volvo V60 Cross Country


Below the models we expect to see in Australia sometime this year, but with no specific timing or confirmation offered by the relevant brands.

Sometime in 2021

UPDATED, Apr 5: Alpina XD3 – initially early 2021, new timing still to be confirmed.

UPDATED, Apr 5: Alpina XB7 – initially early 2021, new timing still to be confirmed.

UPDATED, Apr 5: Alfa Romeo Stelvio – initially first quarter, new timing still to be confirmed.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo

UPDATED, Apr 5: Audi Q7 55 TFSI – initially first quarter, new timing unclear.

UPDATED, Apr 5: BMW X2 M Mesh Edition – initially first quarter, new timing still to be confirmed.

Genesis electric vehicle – understood (though not confirmed) to be badged GV60, and sit on a dedicated EV platform

Haval H6 Hybrid – expected by the end of the year

Honda HR-V – due in Australia by February 2022, meaning a likely local launch late this year or early next.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid – third quarter of 2021 expected

Jaguar F-Type Heritage 60 Edition – available to order, first deliveries expected sometime in 2021

Lotus Elise, Exige Final Edition – sometime later this year

UPDATED, Apr 5: Mahindra Thar – initially first half, new timing unclear

UPDATED, Apr 5: Ram 1500 (new generation) – initially expected starting March, new timing TBC.

Range Rover Evoque updates - available to order, first deliveries expected in 2021

Rolls-Royce Ghost - Australian timing unclear, but first deliveries expected sometime in 2021 (likely Q1)

SsangYong Tivoli – relaunch due to happen in 2021, likely in facelifted form

Walkinshaw-tuned Chevrolet Silverado 1500– initially first quarter, new timing yet to be confirmed


The models below have either not yet been confirmed for Australia, or have already been ruled out.

Maybe...?

Audi SQ5 TFSI facelift - revealed in the US, but Australian plans yet to be confirmed

Audi TTS updates – under evaluation for Australia

Bentley Bentayga Hybrid – confirmed for Australia, but timing yet to be announced

Bentley Continental GT Speed – timing yet to be confirmed, but understood to be bound for Australia

BMW X3 xDrive30e – originally due second quarter, new timing unclear

BYD vehicles – 2022

Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V Blackwing – not for Australia

Citroen C3 Aircross facelift – under evaluation for Australia

Cupra brand – early 2022

Ferrari SF90 Spider, Portofino M – timing unconfirmed

Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport – not available in right-hand-drive… yet

Ford Puma ST and mild-hybrid – no plans for an Australian launch

Haval, Great Wall (GWM) – Big Dog, Tank 300 all rumoured to be under consideration.

Honda Civic (new generation) – sedan not for Australia, regular and Type R hatch models only. Timing remains unconfirmed, however – the current model will be phased out locally in mid-2021, so expect a new model to arrive at a similar time.

Hyundai Bayon – not for Australia

Jaguar XJ electric – axed with new business plan.

Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer – not for Australia, as left-hand-drive-only (details)

NEW, Apr 5: Kia EV6 – confirmed for Australia, arrival timing yet to be confirmed.

Land Rover Discovery facelift – available to order, but timing unconfirmed

Land Rover Discovery Sport update - available to order, but timing unconfirmed

Lexus IS500 F Sport Performance – left-hand-drive only, so not for Australia

Lotus Evija – yet to be certified for sale in Australia

MG Marvel R , MG 5 Electric – neither confirmed for Australia, though the Marvel R is on MG Australia's wish list.

Nissan 400Z - expected between 2021 and 2023, looking near-identical to the Z Proto concept

Nissan Note E-Power (new generation)– no plans

Nissan Qashqai – Australian launch confirmed, but no arrival timing announced, with more details due in the coming months.

Nissan Pathfinder (new generation)– no timing confirmed for Australia, however late 2021 or sometime in 2022 probable.

Nissan X-Trail – initially expected late in the second half of 2021, now looking possible for 2022

Peugeot 208 – initially set for a 2020 launch, but now looking likely for 2022.

Peugeot 308 – here first quarter of 2022

Porsche Taycan rear-wheel-drive – understood to arrive in around early 2022

Renault Kangoo (all-new generation) – confirmed for Australia, launch timing expected to be announced in 2021

Renault Trafic safety upgrade – sometime in 2022

Skoda Fabia – debut set for autumn, ahead of Australian launch by early 2022

Skoda Kamiq 85TSI – current 2021 model nearly sold out, more stock unlikely before 2022

SsangYong E100 electric vehicle – yet to be confirmed for Australia

Tesla Model S, Model X facelift – sometime in 2022

Tesla Model Y – timing yet to be confirmed

Toyota Corolla Cross – late 2022

Volkswagen ID.4 – expected in 2022 or 2023.

Volkswagen Golf Mk8 Alltrack – not coming to Australia

Volkswagen Golf R – hatch confirmed for early 2022, wagon expected at a similar time

Volkswagen Polo and T-Roc facelifts, including T-Roc R

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace facelift – first quarter of 2022

Volkswagen Tiguan R – expected second half of 2022

Volkswagen Touareg R, eHybrid - Australian launch previously confirmed to be off the table

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