Part 3 of CarBuyer Singapore’s guide to new cars coming to Singapore from each brand in 2023

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SINGAPORE

It’s that time of the year again, and CarBuyer Singapore has rounded up all the new cars that will make their way here in 2023. We are rolling them out in alphabetical order, and now present the third part of the series.

As always, the cars are officially-imported versions and do not include parallel imports. Information here is collated from official sources too, and launch dates are subject to change. Prices shown are including COE, unless stated, and all prices are our own estimates unless specifically stated.

In case you missed it, hop back to the second part of this feature here.

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Nissan

Nissan Ariya

Variants: TBC
When: Q1
How much: TBC

Another electric crossover SUV, the Nissan Ariya is the Japanese brand’s big EV. At more than 4.5 metres in length, it fits into the same broad space as the Nissan X-Trail SUV. Specifications have yet to be confirmed for Singapore, but in other markets the car can be bought with a battery capacity of up to 91kWh, which is good for a maximum range of 610km between charges. There are also single-motor 2WD and dual-motor 4WD options. 

Nissan Kicks e-Power Hybrid

Variants: Premium, Premium Plus
When: January 2023
Pricing: From S$149,800 with COE

The Nissan Kicks e-Power hybrid has been given a subtle makeover for 2023. While the styling is more or less identical to the 2022 car except for the addition of a subtle lightbar at the rear, the powertrain has been improved. The new car generating an additional 20Nm of torque, along with the promise of a quieter engine and electric motor combo. The car’s active safety suite has also been upgraded with more features.

Nissan Leaf

Variant: 40kWh
When: January 2023
How much: From S$169,800 with COE

The all-electric Nissan Leaf, which we last reviewed in 2019, has been given a midlife facelift. The styling is new but the car’s mechanical bits remain largely unchanged, so it still has a 40kWh battery pack and a claimed driving range of 311km per charge.

Nissan X-Trail e-Power Hybrid

Variant: Prestige
When: January 2023
How much: From S$240,000 with COE

An all-new design that sees the previous, third-generation design finally sail off into the sunset after eight years, the new Nissan X-Trail, as we saw at the Singapore Motorshow, still features seven seats, along with all-wheel drive. While it’s classed as a petrol-electric hybrid, it actually works like all of Nissan’s other e-Power cars in that the engine, in this case a 1.5-litre three-cylinder, only works to charge the batteries powering the electric motors. The primary driving force of the X-Trail is entirely electric, with a maximum power output of 200hp.

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Opel

Opel Astra

Variant: 1.2-litre petrol
When: TBC
How Much: TBC

Opel’s eternal rival to the VW Golf is still going strong (unlike some hatchback competitors) and the new eighth-generation model will be coming here in 2023 with a 1.2-litre turbo engine. Abroad, this has either a 110hp or 130hp power rating, but we’re guessing the cost difference is minimal, so the latter is more likely since it’s still Cat A eligible.

Inside we’ll see something largely similar to the Mokka-e we drove last year, possibly with larger screens. Our sister media, Top Gear, have already driven it in the UK (as the Vauxhall Astra) and pronounced it well-rounded in all areas, so it could be a good choice for those who want an affordable German hatch with a little more capability than a compact.

Opel Grandland 

Variant: 1.2-litre petrol
When: TBC
How Much: TBC

Opel is well into the SUV-ification of its line-up, and the Grandland mid-sized SUV will be rejoining the stable in 2023. Opel already has two SUVs, the smaller Crossland, and the compact Mokka, but the Grandland slots in above them as a larger offering that will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Skoda Karoq, Toyota Harrier, and more, but its key competitor will be its Stellantis stablemate the Peugeot 3008, with which it shares underpinnings.

The Grandland is all-new for 2023 and so bears Opel’s newer design language (see the ‘visor’ grille) which is much more presentable in ‘23, and typically we don’t have a huge amount of info on exact equipment, the car will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine that’s 128hp strong and thus Cat A friendly, which could give it an edge in a competitive market.

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Pagani

Pagani Huayra Roadster BC

Variant: BC
When: February 2023
How much: S$14.5mil on-road (estimated)

Featuring a 6.0-litre, twin-turbo V12 engine built by Mercedes-AMG, the Pagani Huayra has more than 790hp and is entirely rear-wheel driven. Only 40 examples of the targa-topped Huayra Roadster BC will ever be built, and like every Pagani made it’s filled with exotic materials. We have it from a source that two of them have been sold in Singapore and are being delivered to their owners in February 2023.

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Peugeot

Peugeot 408

Variant: 1.2 turbo
When: February 2023
How much: S$109,888 without COE

Peugeot’s 408 is, thankfully, not another SUV. We previewed the crossover/hatch/fastback/sorta-saloon thingy at the 2023 Motorshow and thought it looked pretty slick in the flesh. Despite the fast looks, the 408 is thoroughly aimed at the mainstream buyer, since it has a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine that’s Cat A eligible (130hp, and also in Citroen and Opel cars).

It also looks to have decent fuel consumption on paper (5.8L/100km) along with Peugeot’s typically attractive and useful interior too. It also has a very large boot – more than 520-litres or comparable to an Audi Q3 – so if you want some of the practicality of an SUV but simply don’t want to roll with the trend, this could be the car for you.

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Polestar

Polestar 2 RWD

Variants: TBC
When: TBC
How Much: Similar to current model

The great thing about EVs is how making certain upgrades and updates is easier. For one thing, they can remain mechanically unchanged, but become rear- or front-wheel drive quite easily. Polestar is one of the first to do this in an obvious way – it has announced improvements to its debutante model, the Polestar 2 executive sedan. Internationally, the brand will make an improved version that has better power, batteries, and cabin updates.

A new motor with more powerful magnets and revised inverter means output is increased up to a maximum of 295hp for the single motor variant (up from 220hp), and the motor will drive the  rear wheels, rather than the front. There will also be a 6kWh bump to battery capacity, which could equate to an almost 100km improvement to range, depending on the model.

The updated car will receive the Smartzone front sensor featuring Lidar, which will boost the car’s already considerable safety credentials further. Polestar Singapore says it’s not sure exactly when the updated car will come to Singapore, but a late 2023 debut is on the cards, by our own guess. 

Polestar 3

Variants: TBC
When: Q4
How much: (estimated) S$350,000 with COE

Polestar has not been shy of its luxury label aspirations, and here is the car that will kickstart its drive to give the Germans a hard time in the EV arena: The Polestar 3 large SUV. CarBuyer attended the car’s global unveiling in Copenhagen last year, so we’ve written very extensively on it including a full rundown on everything we know about it to date, five stand-out points, and plenty of photos from the event itself.

To summarise, the Cayenne-sized car aims to take on BMW and Porsche in the big lux soft-roader game – it’ll come to Singapore as a Long Range Dual Motor version at launch in the later part of this year. It will pack 510hp and a huge 111kWh battery for at least 600km of range, an advanced torque vectoring system and chassis tech so it dance the dance and not just chug the miles. A Performance Pack will add tuned air suspension, a trick rear differential, and possibly uprated brakes – read online as we describe it in more detail.

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Porsche

Porsche 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster Style Editions  

Variant: 2.0-litre turbocharged 
When: Q2
How much: 718 Boxster Style Edition S$306,888 without COE or options, 718 Cayman Style Edition S$ 302,888 without COE or options

As you can guess from the pricetags, these special editions of Porsche’s least expensive two-doors are mild, in performance terms, as if the ‘Style’ name didn’t give things away. Announced in late 2022, the Style Editions bring a bunch of visual upgrades, the draw being it would be more expensive to spec them individually, if you could at all. The biggest eye-opener is the Ruby Star Neo paint shown on the boxster, drawn from the classic 964 Carrera RS. You also get graphics (Porsche sticker, stripes), 20-inch Rs Spyder wheels, black tailpipes, additional leather, and illuminated logos/model names inside the cabin.

Porsche 911 Dakar

Variant: 3.0-litre
When: Q2
How much: S$ 967,788 without COE and options 

Porsche is setting its digits ‘911’ to speed dial for 2023, with no less than four different versions landing here this year. The first is arguably the most special, the 911 Dakar, which is a limited-edition made to celebrate Porsche’s history in the legendary Paris Dakar rally. The 911 Dakar also isn’t a cynical cash-grab sort of deal with a few decals and an inflated price, too. As detailed in our news story, the 911 Dakar is Porsche’s proper stab at a 911 ‘Allroad’ or 911 Cross Turismo, to use Porsche nomenclature. It rides higher than a regular 911, has been specially developed for light offroading, and is dressed in the appropriate livery (you can choose a Rothmans-inspired appearance, for example). 2,500 examples are being made at the factory, with fewer than five making their way to Singapore and as usual, all of them are already spoken for.

Porsche 911 Sport Classic

Variant: 3.7-litre, seven-speed manual gearbox 
When: Q1
How much: from S$ 1,234,488 without COE

Another 911 to land here in ‘23 is…drumroll…another limited edition! This is the 911 Sport Classic, and it’s even more expensive than the Dakar, in part because only half as many are being made. A product of Porsche’s Heritage Design programme, the 911 Sport Classic is the second iteration of the name, after the 997-based one from 2009. The incoming car has the widebody shape from the 911 Turbo, a double-bubble roof, and ducktail style rear spoiler. The car’s powered by the 911 Turbo’s 3.7-litre turbo flat six, but interestingly enough, it has 550hp and is offered as a manual-only, making it the most powerful 911 you can row your own gears with. More details in our news story here.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Variant: 4.0-litre
When: Q2
How much: from S$ 974,488 without COE

It’s 2023 but Porsche isn’t just saving us from boring EVs, but also boring turbo cars too : We’re very glad to see the most focused, purist-aimed 911 of them all still on the pricelist, namely the latest version of the hardcore driver’s 911, the GT3 RS. As before, it’s ditched a manual gearbox for a dual-clutch, but has all manner of go-faster trickery on board including a drag reduction system, a lot of obvious aero (more than 400kg of downforce at 200km/h), a front-mount radiator that replaces the luggage compartment, adjustable systems that tweak the suspension and differential. 525hp horses come from the screaming, non-turbo 4.0-litre engine, and the whole shebang weighs less than 1,500kg. On paper so far, it looks like a driver’s dream come true. 

Porsche 911 Carrera T

Variants: 3.0-litre turbo, dual-clutch or manual option 
When: Q2
How much: S$536,488 without COE and options  

The final, new 911 for 2023 will be the Carrera T, T stands for ‘touring’, and it’s the less-is-more, not so eye-wateringly expensive version of the 911 that stands just between the Carrera and Carrera S models in price. It’s the pared back, lighter Carrera, that really goes back to the you-and-the-road feeling of the early 911s : There are no rear seats (optional), thinner glass, and if you opt for the manual model, it’s a total of 35kg of weight saved over the normal Carrera. That means around 1.4-tonnes, plus 380hp, and rear-wheel drive, which should spell a lovely time behind the wheel. 

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Renault

Renault Megane e-Tech Electric

Variant: 130hp full-electric
When: H2
How Much: (estimated) S$160,000 with COE

Renault’s Megane hatchback will make a comeback as a fully-electric car. Like Citroen’s once-a-hatchback C4, the Megane is now styled very much like a crossover (though still a hatch on paper) though unlike the Citroen, the Megane is now only an EV, and there will be no petrol version at all. That’s down to the Nissan-Renault EV platform (which we see in the Ariya crossover previewed at the Singapore Motorshow), with a relatively thin 110mm tall battery, it should avoid some of the EV drawbacks we’ve seen. Renault has 130hp/40kWh battery and 220hp/60kWh battery models, but the former is the one which will come to Singapore. This means it’s Cat A eligible, which should keep the cost down, and despite the relatively small 40kWh battery pack, Renault quotes a range of 300km for that model. 

On to Rolls-Royce, Skoda, Subaru and Suzuki on Page 2

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