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 X-Trail, 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: 1 March 2021
Below are the models we expect to launch inside a specific quarter of the year, as advised by each brand.
First quarter
Alpina XD3 (pricing) – early 2021
Alpina XB7 (pricing) (overseas review) – early 2021
Aston Martin DBX (revealed) (prototype review) – initial deliveries started in 2020, but many more expected in early 2021
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (pricing) (revealed)
Audi A4 Allroad power bump (pricing) – early 2021
Audi Q5 facelift (details) – on sale now
BMW 128ti (pricing) (revealed) – on sale now
BMW 4 Series Convertible (revealed)
BMW X2 M Mesh Edition (revealed)
BMW X5 M, X6 M Competition First Edition (revealed) – just 4 coming to Australia
BMW X7 Dark Shadow Edition (pricing) – 10 for Australia, first deliveries March
BMW M3 sedan, M4 Coupe (pricing) (revealed)
Citroen C3 facelift (pricing) – on sale now
Ford Ranger XL Tradie (pricing) – on sale now
Ford Ranger Wildtrak X MY21 update (pricing) – on sale now
Honda Odyssey update (pricing) – on sale now
Hyundai Kona facelift (pricing) – on sale now
Hyundai Kona Electric facelift (revealed) – March
Hyundai i30 Sedan N Line (pricing) – on sale now
Hyundai Sonata N Line (revealed) – March
Iveco Daily (pricing) – on sale now
Jaguar XF facelift (pricing and details)
Jaguar E-Pace facelift (pricing)
Jeep Gladiator Sport S (pricing) – on sale now
Jeep Wrangler MY21 (pricing) – on sale now
Kia Carnival (revealed) – on sale now
Kia Stonic (local details) (revealed) – on sale now
Land Rover Defender 110 MY21, Defender 90 (MY21 updates pricing) (delay details) – available now
LDV Deliver 9 auto (details) – first few examples arrived in 2020, more due in early 2021
NEW, Mar 1: Lexus UX, NX and RX Crafted Editions – available to order now
Lexus LS facelift (revealed) – on sale now
Maserati Ghibli Trofeo, Quattroporte Trofeo (revealed) – March
Maserati Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante MY21 updates – on sale now
Mazda 6 update (pricing) – March
Mazda CX-3 update (pricing) – on sale now
Mazda CX-5 update (pricing) – March
Mazda CX-8 update (early details) – expected March or April
Mazda CX-9 update (pricing) – on sale now
Mazda MX-5 update (pricing) – on sale now
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe (pricing) – on sale now
Mercedes-Benz E350 (pricing) – on sale now
Mercedes-Maybach GLS (revealed) - March
Mercedes-Benz Vito and Valente facelift (pricing) – on sale now
Mini Countryman Boardwalk Edition (pricing) – available to order
Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition – available to order now
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport MY21 update (pricing) – on sale now
Nissan Leaf e+ (details) – early 2021
Nissan Navara facelift (revealed) – on sale now
NEW, Mar 1: Nissan X-Trail MY21 update (pricing) – March
Peugeot 308 mild facelift (details) – early 2021
Peugeot 3008, 5008 facelifts (3008 revealed) (5008 revealed)
UPDATED, Mar 1: Porsche Taycan (pricing) – on sale now
Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid MY21 battery upgrades (revealed)
Ram 1500 (new generation) (details) (delay details) – first stock in March, more due in April/May
Range Rover (full-size) MY21 updates (revealed) ('Fifty' special edition revealed)
Range Rover Velar MY21 (details) - first deliveries March
NEW, Mar 1: Skoda Fabia Run-Out Edition (pricing) – on sale now
Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Monte Carlo, Limited Edition (pricing) – on sale now, following delays (delay details)
Skoda Scala (pricing) – on sale now following delays, first deliveries expected February (delay details)
Skoda Superb 162TSI (details)
SsangYong Rexton (details) – second half of March
Subaru Outback (details) (revealed in the US) – March
Tesla Model 3 update (details) – on sale now
Toyota GR Yaris Rallye limited edition (pricing) (details) – first 200 arrive in March
Toyota HiLux Rogue, Rugged X facelift (delay details) (pricing) – on sale now
Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series Horizon special edition (details) – March
Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI (pricing) – mid-March
Volkswagen Touareg Wolfsburg (pricing) – March
Volkswagen Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan, California T6.1 (2021 timing details) (pricing) – FWD models on sale now, all-wheel-drive variants due by late March.
Walkinshaw-tuned Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (details)
Second quarter
Audi SQ5 TDI facelift (revealed) – April
UPDATED, Mar 1: Ford Mustang Mach 1 (pricing) (details)
Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition (details) (lottery details)
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai i20 N (details) – expected April or May
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai i30 N hatch facelift (details) (DCT prototype review) – expected May or June
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai Tucson (initial details)
Kia Cerato (details) – May
Kia Niro – order books open in Q2 (details)
Kia Sorento hybrid (details)
Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque P300e PHEVs (revealed)
Jaguar F-Pace SVR facelift (pricing) – first deliveries April
Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (pricing) (international review)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (new generation) (revealed) – order books open in March
Porsche 718 Boxster 25 Years (revealed) – April
Renault Captur (new gen) (pricing) – first deliveries April
Skoda Octavia (new gen) (revealed) (full overseas lineup details) – late April
Toyota Camry facelift (revealed) – expected April
Volkswagen Amarok W580 (revealed) – April
Volkswagen Golf Mk8 hatch (pricing) – May
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk8 (pricing) – May 24
Volkswagen Passat full range (details)
Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI and 147TDI (pricing) – late May
Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI (pricing) – June
Third quarter
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai Ioniq 5 (revealed)
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai i30 Sedan N (details) (teased)
UPDATED, Mar 1: Hyundai Kona N (details)
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (revealed) – understood (though yet to be officially confirmed) to be arriving in August or September
NEW, Mar 1: Land Rover Defender V8 (pricing) – July
Mitsubishi Outlander (new generation) (revealed) – by end of 2021 confirmed, September or October expected
Volkswagen Arteon liftback and Shooting Brake wagon (details)
Volvo B-series mild-hybrid petrol engines – July 2021, replacing conventional petrol and diesel engines (details)
Fourth quarter
Aston Martin DBX Bowmore Edition (revealed) – 18 available to order worldwide, first deliveries fourth quarter, 2021
BMW iX (revealed) – pricing to be released mid-2021, first deliveries in the fourth quarter
BMW M4 Competition x Kith (revealed)
Ford Escape plug-in hybrid (pricing) – late 2021
Lexus UX 300e (details) – November
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class (revealed)
NEW, Mar 1: Ram 1500 TRX (details) – order books now open
Subaru WRX (details) – 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
Genesis G70 facelift (revealed)
Haval H6 (details) – expected first half
Mazda MX-30 mild-hybrid (details)
Porsche 718 GT4, GTS 4.0, Spyder PDK automatic option (details) - first deliveries early 2021
Renault Koleos update (details)
Renault Megane RS facelift (details)
Toyota Kluger (new-generation) (details) - originally expected in 2020, now pushed out to first half, 2021
Mid-year
Alpina B3 (pricing) – first examples delivered directly to customers late in 2020, more stock due on showroom floors mid-year
BMW M5 CS (pricing) – just 20 for Australia, all sold out
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Trail Boss
Mazda MX-30 all-electric (details)
Peugeot 3008 plug-in hybrid (details) (revealed)
Ram 2500 Heavy Duty (2500/3500 details)
Second half
Abarth 595 update (revealed) – expected second half of 2021
Abarth 595 Scorpioneoro (details) – expected second half of 2021
Audi A3 hatch and sedan (revealed)
Audi SQ5 Sportback TDI (revealed)
Chevrolet Corvette (details) – likely fourth quarter of 2021
Isuzu MU-X (revealed) – expected mid-to-late-2021
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (details)
Mini Hatch and Convertible facelift (revealed)
Peugeot 2008 GT (details)
Renault Arkana (Australian details) (revealed) – replacing the slow-selling Kadjar
Subaru BRZ – confirmed for Australia, expected (though not confirmed) in the second half of 2021 (revealed)
Subaru Levorg (new generation) (revealed) - expected in the second half of 2021
Tesla Model S Plaid (details) – first deliveries slated for late 2021, according to the brand's online configurator
Toyota GR Yaris (details) – second batch of cars due to arrive in the second half of 2021
Volkswagen Amarok and Crafter Seikel off-road accessories (details)
Volkswagen Caddy (European launch details) (revealed)
Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge EV (revealed)
Volvo V60 Cross Country (revealed)
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
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 33 Stradale Tributo (revealed)
Honda HR-V (revealed) – due in Australia by February 2022, meaning a likely local launch late this year or early next.
Hyundai Nexo – government trial in the ACT for now, ahead of a full public launch in 2021 (details)
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid (facelift) – third quarter of 2021 expected
Jaguar F-Pace facelift (pricing) – available to order, first deliveries expected in 2021
Jaguar F-Type Heritage 60 Edition – available to order, first deliveries expected sometime in 2021 (revealed)
Kia Sorento plug-in hybrid (details)
Lotus Elise, Exige Final Edition (pricing) – sometime later this year
MG HS 2.0-litre turbo
Range Rover Evoque updates (pricing) - available to order, first deliveries expected in 2021
Rolls-Royce Ghost (revealed) - Australian timing unclear, but first deliveries expected sometime in 2021 (likely Q1)
SsangYong Tivoli (details) (facelift revealed) – relaunch due to happen in 2021, likely in facelifted form
Toyota Mirai – 20 examples to arrive for testing in 2021 (details)
The models below have either not yet been confirmed for Australia, or have already been ruled out.
MAYBE, BABY?
Audi SQ5 TFSI facelift (revealed) - revealed in the US, but Australian plans yet to be confirmed
Audi TTS updates – under evaluation for Australia (revealed)
Bentley Bentayga Hybrid (revealed) – confirmed for Australia, but timing yet to be announced
BMW X3 xDrive30e – originally due second quarter, new timing unclear
Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, CT5-V Blackwing (revealed) – not for Australia
Citroen C3 Aircross facelift (revealed) – under evaluation for Australia
Ferrari SF90 Spider, Portofino M – timing unconfirmed
Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport (Bronco revealed) (Bronco Sport revealed) – not available in right-hand-drive... yet
Ford Puma ST (ST revealed for Europe) 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 concept revealed) – 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.
Jaguar XJ electric – axed with new business plan.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer – not for Australia, as left-hand-drive-only (details)
Land Rover Discovery facelift (pricing) – available to order, but timing unconfirmed
Land Rover Discovery Sport update (pricing) - available to order, but timing unconfirmed
Lexus IS500 F Sport Performance (revealed) – left-hand-drive only, so not for Australia
Lotus Evija (details) – yet to be certified for sale in Australia
Nissan 400Z (Z Proto concept reveal) - expected between 2021 and 2023, looking near-identical to the Z Proto concept
Nissan Note E-Power (new generation) (revealed) – no plans
Nissan Qashqai (revealed) – Australian launch confirmed, but no arrival timing announced, with more details due in the coming months.
Nissan Pathfinder (new generation) (revealed) – no timing confirmed for Australia, however late 2021 or sometime in 2022 probable.
Nissan X-Trail (revealed) – initially expected late in the second half of 2021, now looking possible for 2022
Peugeot 208 (details) – initially set for a 2020 launch, but now looking likely for 2022.
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (details) – expected in 2022, though unconfirmed
Porsche Taycan rear-wheel-drive (details) – understood to arrive in around early 2022
Renault Kangoo (all-new generation) (revealed) – confirmed for Australia, launch timing expected to be announced in 2021
Renault Trafic safety upgrade (details) – sometime in 2022
Skoda Fabia (teased) – debut set for autumn, ahead of Australian launch by early 2022
SsangYong E100 electric vehicle (teased) – yet to be confirmed for Australia
Tesla Model S, Model X facelift (revealed) – sometime in 2022
Tesla Model Y – timing yet to be confirmed
Toyota Corolla Cross (details) – late 2022
Volkswagen ID.4 (revealed) – expected in 2022 or 2023.
Volkswagen Golf Mk8 wagon, Alltrack (revealed) – not coming to Australia
Volkswagen Golf R, Tiguan R, T-Roc R – 2022 (Golf R revealed)
Volkswagen Touareg R, eHybrid - Australian launch previously confirmed to be off the table
Reckon we've missed something? Let us know in the comments below!
