BMW XM
BMW XM
The automotive industry may be going electric, but that doesn't mean there aren't some stunning traditional combustion-engine cars and SUVs entering the market this year.
In this article, we look at some of the best new cars which will make their debut in Arnold Clark showrooms across the country in 2023.
Check out our list below and let us know which one you're most looking forward to.
BMW’s all-new 5 Series will be launched with a comprehensive selection of powertrains, including internal combustion, PHEV and full-EV.
BMW says the eighth generation of the large executive saloon will be its most advanced and ambitious yet. As in previous years, the plug-in versions will be available with either 2.0-litre four-cylinder (530e) or 3.0-litre straight-six (545e) petrol engines. Opt for the pure diesel or petrol models, and you’ll find they benefit from 48V mild-hybrid tech to deliver efficiency and performance gains. M versions of both the ICE and EV models will also be added to the range.
Inside the comfortable and stylish cabin, there will be ample space for four adults in comfort. You can also expect to see a new raft of tech, infotainment and safety features introduced across the range.
*Price: From £42,000 (est.) *
This is one of the most anticipated ICE cars of the year: the first-ever BMW M3 Touring. We know that German giants and rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi have been building estate versions of their hot saloons for a number of years. But while BMW has tried the package in the form of the M5 estate, this is the first official M3 Touring.
So, what do you get? Under the bonnet has been squeezed a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six, delivering 503bhp and 479lb/ft through all four wheels, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 3.6secs (0.2s slower than the Mercedes AMG C63 estate, but more importantly, only 0.1secs slower than the BMW M3 saloon). Official fuel consumption? An entirely acceptable, and official, 27.2-28mpg. Well, acceptable when you factor in the blistering performance.
And if you do have to carry stuff in the estate boot space, you’ll be pleased to know you have 500 litres of space with the rear seats up, jumping to 1,510-litres with them folded.
Price: £80,550
Ok, take a deep breath. The XM is a hulking SUV launched to celebrate 50 years of BMW’s Motorsport division. Yes, that was last year, and though the XM officially went on sale last November, first deliveries are scheduled to start in the first half of this year.
Powered by its not insignificant 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, mated to a 25kWh battery and an electric motor to boost performance and efficiency, the combined power pack pumps out 644bhp and 800Nm of torque. Just as well, then, that all that power is channelled through four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Performance? BMW claims the XM will accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph. Tick the ‘M Driver’s Package’ on the options sheet and you can raise this further to 168mph. That pleasure will also cost you £2,500.
Average fuel consumption for the XM stands at 188.3mpg and it can also drive in electric-only mode, allowing for up to 55 miles of pure-electric driving from the 25.7kWh battery. BMW also claims the XM emits 35g/km of CO2 on a combined cycle.
Price: From £145,885
The CLE is a new badge in the Mercedes-Benz range. Essentially replacing both the C and E-Class coupés and convertibles, the two-door model also allows Mercedes-Benz to streamline the complexity of its product portfolio.
Targeting rivals such as the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series, the CLE is a four-seater which will be built on the company’s MRA2 architecture. Buyers will be able to choose from a number of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines, although six-cylinder power would be compatible with the platform for high-power AMG versions. It’s unlikely a four-door coupé version of the CLE will be added to the range.
Price: From £45,000 (estimated)
The 2023 AMG GT, the second-generation of Mercedes-Benz’ two-door flagship which will take the performance battle to the Porsche 911, will be powered by the company’s 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine. The twin-turbocharged unit is expected to offer a similar output as in the SL, with 469bhp in a new GT 53 model and 577bhp in the successor to the GT 63.
In time, more powerful models will be rolled out in the AMG GT range, including the GT R, GT GT3 and range-topping GT Black Series.
It’s understood Mercedes-Benz is also working on a new GT 63 S E-Performance model. This will be powered by the same petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the recently introduced GT 63 S E-Performance 4-door coupé. That package mates the GT 63’s V8 engine with an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. The combo thrusts out 831bhp and up to 1084lb/ft on Overboost.
Price: From £165,000 (estimated)
Thinking of making the switch to electric?
We know for a fact the next-generation MINI Hatch will be unveiled this year. But the reality is, at the moment, that’s about the only fact we have. MINI boffins are remaining incredibly tight-lipped about the new model. The only official glimpse we’ve had of the car is during cold weather testing when it was pictured with Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design.
Sure, we know there will be internal combustion-engine models, along with a new all-electric version (we’ve covered the details of that in our EV feature). And while we know mild-hybrid assistance is a certainty in the ICE models, we don’t know exactly what engines MINI will be fitting.
It’s also fair to assume MINI Cooper, and the faster MINI Cooper S variants are likely to launch the new range when it finally appears in production form.
As for styling? The 2023 MINI Hatch is likely to be fitted with the protruding rear light design which, until now has been the unique domain of the MINI Electric. The tapering roofline in the images also appears to narrow in a more pronounced way towards the rear of the car. Oh! And the 2023 MINI will be smaller than the model it replaces, as the company sees the MINI returning more towards its roots.
Price: From £30,000 (estimated)
