2016 Porsche New Cars

Details of the new and updated Porsche models launching in Australia in 2016.

Macan GTS – January

Deliveries of the Macan GTS will commence early in the year, with the sporty, gap-filling model in the brand’s smallest SUV line offering buyers a more aggressive look to the rest of the range.

There’s plenty of black highlights on the outside, including quad exhausts, and it’s not just appearance that differs for the GTS – the car features a modified chassis with lowered suspension, and the GTS’s 21-inch wheels help fill the arches. Inside, there’s a new media system with Apple CarPlay, too.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol with 265kW and 500Nm, which is 11kW and 40Nm more than the entry-level petrol S.

Priced at $109,500 plus on-road costs it’s $22,800 more than the Macan S petrol and $12,900 less than the flagship Macan Turbo.

Read our review here.

911 Carrera – March

The all-turbocharged updated 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S will arrive in Australia sporting a revised look and new gear in March.

That’s right – this isn’t the 911 Turbo, but it is the 911 turbo. The move to forced-induction engines is driven by emissions regulations, with the brilliant 3.6-litre flat six replaced by a 3.0-litre turbo flat-six, with 272kW of power for the Carrera and 309kW for the Carrera S – up 15kW and 60Nm over the old versions.

Fuel consumption savings are also promised, with the PDK-equipped Carrera now listing 7.4 L/100km on the NEDC test cycle and the Carrera S listing 7.7L/100km. Those figures represent 0.8L/100km and 1.0L/100km improvements respectively.

Apple CarPlay will be offered standard, as will front parking sensors and a reverse-view camera.

As has been the case for eons, the 911 Carrera will be offered with a manual gearbox (seven-speed) or Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch seven-speeder. And it will be offered as a Coupe or Cabriolet.

Read our review of the 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera here.

2016 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S pricing (plus on-road costs):
911 Carrera coupe manual – $217,800
911 Carrera coupe PDK – $223,750
911 Carrera S coupe manual – $252,800
911 Carrera S coupe PDK – $258,750
911 Carrera Cabriolet manual – $239,300
911 Carrera Cabriolet PDK – $245,250
911 Carrera S Cabriolet manual – $274,300
911 Carrera S Cabriolet PDK – $280,250

911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S – Q2

The 911 range expands to include all-wheel drive in the second quarter of the year when the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4Smodels arrive.

These all-wheel-drive models bring the same turbocharged six-cylinder engines as are also fitted to the regular Carrera and Carrera S models, but they’re faster due to the additional traction on offer (0-100km/h for the Carrera 4 is 4.1 seconds – 0.1sec faster than the rear-drive; 4S is 3.8sec, also 0.1sec quicker).

The Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models adopt wider wheel arches, and can be had as a coupe or Convertible.

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 and 4S pricing (plus on-road costs):
911 Carrera 4 Coupe – $233,900
911 Carrera 4S Coupe – $269,000
911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet – $255,400
911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet – $290,500

911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S – Q2

Porsche’s other ‘regular’ 911 variant, the Targa, will join the 4 and 4S models before the middle of 2016.

The shell-back convertible model features a semi-hardtop lid, with the rear glass section lifting up to stow the roof behind the rear seats. It takes 19 seconds to do its thing, and yeah, it’s a bit complicated, but it harks back to the Targa model of old.

The Targa is only available with all-wheel-drive, and also debuts the new turbo engines offered in the other 911 models.

Porsche 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S pricing (plus on-road costs):
911 Targa 4 – $255,400
911 Targa 4S – $290,500

911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S – early Q3

Originally we thought the new Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S would arrive in May, but that (er) may be pushed out to early in the third quarter of 2016.

The new Turbo (read: not the regular turbo) model is more powerful than before, with the 3.8-litre bi-turbo six-cylinder engine now pushing out 397kW, while the Turbo S churns out 427kW. That’s 15kW up on both models.

And so the 911 Turbo S Coupe sprints to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, down 0.2sec, while its top speed of 330km/h is 12 km/h higher than before. The 911 Turbo now reaches the 100km/h mark in 3.0sec (down 0.2sec) and its top speed is now 320km/h – five clicks faster.

Because going fast is just as fun topless, the Turbo and Turbo S models are again offered with coupe and Convertible body styles.

Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S pricing (plus on-road costs):
911 Turbo – $384,900
911 Turbo Cabriolet – $406,400
911 Turbo S – $456,500
911 Turbo S Cabriolet – $478,000

718 Boxster and 718 Cayman – Q4

The new-generation Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman will see numbers added to their names in 2016 following an expected debut at the 2016 Paris motor show. But the changes will be much more than just a name…

Following the lead of the larger 911, both the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman will embrace turbocharging technology with the introduction of the 2016 update.

The 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman will trade their 2.7-litre flat six engines for equally powerful 2.0-litre flat four-cylinder turbos, doing away with the current divide that positions the Cayman above the Boxster in the power stakes.

Reflecting this – and again mirroring the 911 range structure – the 718 Cayman coupe will now assume the entry-level position beneath the 718 Boxster roadster in terms of pricing.

It’s been speculated that the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman’s new 2.0-litre turbo engine will produce roughly 178kW, which would be down from the current 2.7-litre engine’s 195kW output in the Boxster and 202kW in the Cayman.

The turbo motor will no doubt improve dramatically on the 280Nm and 290Nm currently produced by the Boxster and Cayman respectively, however. That extra torque should see both cars improve on their 0-100km/h times, currently pegged at 5.4 seconds for the hardtop and 5.5sec for the soft-top.

Stay tuned for more on the 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman in 2016.

2016 Mitsubishi New Cars

Details of the new and updated Mitsubishi models launching in Australia in 2016.

Mirage update – Q1

Updated versions of the Mitsubishi Mirage hatch and sedan will arrive, potentially a few weeks apart, in the first quarter of 2016.

Mitsubishi smallest model, and one of the cheapest on the market, will get some minor stylistic enhancements broadly in line with the updated MY17 US-market model revealed last month.

There will also be some improvements to the cabin, with revised materials and trims. There is also a strong chance that Apple CarPlay/Android Auto will be offered on upper-level versions, as they will on the new rival Holden Spark due around the same time.

The 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine is expected to carry over.

The current Mirage is still soldiering on as the top-seller in its segment, with 3616 finding home this year — almost double the tally of its closest saes rival, the two-door Fiat 500.

However, Mirage sales are also down 41.3 per cent, which is greater even that the micro car segment’s overall drop of 31.3 per cent. Buyers, it seems, are moving into light cars (up 3.9 per cent) or buying used.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV — mid-2016

The updated, market-unique plug-in hybrid version of Mitsubishi’s trusty Outlander medium SUV will lob around July 2016.

There’s been some minor delay in getting the car here. The vehicle is so popular in markets like the Netherlands, the UK and Russia, that Australia simply has to wait its turn.

As you can read from our international review here, the MY16/17 Outlander PHEV brings to the table revised styling, a more premium cabin design, extra sound-deadening, a stiffer chassis and refined suspension.

The signature drivetrain — a  2.0-litre petrol linked to the front wheels, able to serve as a generator, matched to a battery that can be charged externally, and electric motors.

Responsiveness improves courtesy of a re-calibration of the way the PHEV integrates, while claimed combined-cycle fuel use over 100km is now 1.8L/100km.

With current PHEV range is priced between $47,490 and $52,490 plus on-road costs. Expect Mitsubishi to carry this over more or less unchanged.

Extras

In addition to this, you might expect some running changes to ageing models such as the Lancer as the year progresses. This model just received MY16 updates, but MY16.5 is not unheard of.

Furthermore, MMAL is still weighing up whether it will launch the ASX update recently premiered in the US here, or push for one with different styling. It remains up in the air, as it did in November, though expect some activity around ASX later in the year.

2016 Mini New Cars

Details of the new and updated Mini vehicles launching in Australia in 2016.

Mini Convertible – April

The third-generation Mini Convertible becomes the BMW-owned British brand’s biggest and most mature fabric-top model ever, measuring 98mm longer and 44mm wider than its predecessor, and sitting on a wheelbase that’s 28mm longer than before.

The new model also boasts more cabin space, as well as new front seats with extra adjustability, improved ingress and egress, a longer seat base for rear passengers, and roughly 25 per cent more boot space at 215 litres.

There are no surprises under the bonnet, where the new Mini Convertible inherits its turbocharged petrol engines from the hatches: the 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder Cooper, and the 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder Cooper S. Both will be available with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Other technologies from the third-gen Mini family find their way into the Convertible, such as LED headlights with high beam assist, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, reverse-view camera, collision and pedestrian warning with auto brake function, and road sign detection.

It also benefits from the new Mini Connected infotainment system with intelligent emergency call, in-car entertainment and social media app integration, and an internet-linked rain warning function that alerts drivers of incoming weather if the roof is open.

Expect circa-$40,000 pricing for the Cooper and a circa-$50,000 tag for the Cooper S.

The Toyota 86 GRMN Is Going into Production

When it was first released, the Toyota GT86 was considered the true successor of the iconic AE86, also known as “Hachiroku.” Now, the Japanese company has announced that a special edition called 86 GRMN will hit the market, but before you head to the closest dealership, find out that it will only be available in Japan.

Last year at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Gazoo Racing Masters of Nurburgring unveiled the 86 GRMN concept, which has possessed the fans' imagination ever since.

This particular edition is, in fact, a hardcore version of the original GT86, with improved performances and a more aggressive look. The power of the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine has been increased to 216 bhp and 160 lb-ft of torque and is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

The car also has some aerodynamic upgrades, such as a front splitter and a massive rear wing. You would think that all these extras also make the car heavier, but in fact, the GRMN is 100lbs lighter because of a carbon fiber hood and plexiglass windows.

The suspension has also been improved, and 17-inch wheels with fatter rear tires have been installed. To handle all the extra power, the 86 GRMN has ventilated brake discs with six-pot front and four-pot rear calipers.

Only 100 examples of the Toyota 86 GRMN will be made, and each one will have the starting price of $53,800. It will be shown to the public in January 2016, at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

The original Toyota GT86 is sold worldwide under three different brands and it often gets confusing for people who are not interested in the automotive industry. The car is known under the name of Toyota 86 in Asia, South Africa, South America and Australia, as GT86 in Europe, and as FT86 in Nicaragua and Jamaica.

The vehicle is also known as the Subaru BRZ worldwide and as Scion FR-S in the US and Canada.

2016 MG New Cars

Details of the new and updated MG models launching in Australia in 2016.

Historic British brand MG, in Chinese hands since 2006, is planning a comeback in the Australian market.

The brand most recently tried its luck in our hugely competitive market through a local distributor operation, also Chinese-owned, but the brand failed to make any real headway.

This time, MG owner SAIC – China’s largest carmaker and a manufacturing partner to General Motors and Volkswagen – is taking direct control of the brand’s Australian sales.

What’s coming?

MG 3 – April

The first cab off the rank will be the light MG 3 hatch, revealed at the 2013 Shanghai auto show.

In its current form, the MG 3 is powered by a 77kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, matched to a five-speed manual.

The MG 3 will launch here in April, but it remains to be seen if an update to the nearly three year-old car will appear first. MG Australia CEO, Jason Pecotic, has told CarAdvice however that the existing MG 3 is still defined as a current model.

Read more about the MG 3

MG 6 – September

The MG 6 will get another go at the Australian market in September, after failing to take off under previous distributor Longwell.

A facelifted version of the MG 6 debuted earlier this year in overseas markets, but it remains to be seen if the local relaunch will begin with this updated model or the roughly 600 unsold vehicles left over from the previous Australian effort.

Australian models in the previous range were powered by a 118kW/215Nm 1.8-litre SOHC petrol engine. The revised range again features a 1.8-litre petrol engine, along with a 1.9-litre diesel, but the latter is not expected here because it is a manual-only model.

The new MG operation in Australia has confirmed that the MG 6 will launch with an automatic transmission only.

Read more about the MG 6

MG CS/GS/GTS

Revealed as a concept way back in 2013, the MG CS SUV is expected to make its production debut in 2016.

Little about the final version of the CS has been revealed, although MG said in 2013 that it will “expand the global reach of the MG brand”.

Although the CS concept is unquestionably the freshest-looking model from MG in years, it will enter a hugely competitive market in Australia.

Local timing is still to be confirmed, but MG Australia chief Jason Pecotic has told CarAdvice that a late 2016 debut is the target.

2016 McLaren New Cars

Details of the new and updated McLaren models launching in Australia in 2016.

McLaren 570S – early 2016

The McLaren 570S will make its Australian debut in the early part of 2016, with a $408,000 drive-away price tag.

For the money, buyers will be treated to a 420kW/600Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 matched to a seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox – a combination that promises a 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds.

The best part to that list, of course, is that the 570S coupe’s acceleration makes it a match for the legendary McLaren F1.

Read more about the McLaren 570S

McLaren 540C – early 2016

Arriving below the 570S, the debut of the $350,000 540C shaves around $110,000 off the price of entry into the McLaren range.

The 540C gets the same engine that drives the 570S, with outputs detuned to 397kW and 540Nm.

The new entry model’s performance is still impressive, however, with a 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds making it only slightly short of the 570S’s time.

Read more about the McLaren 540C

2016 Mercedes-Benz New Cars

Details of the new and updated Mercedes-Benz models launching in Australia in 2016.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class – January

The facelifted Mercedes-Benz A-Class range will arrive in Australia in the first month of 2016, bringing with it revised pricing, new equipment and a new halo model in the form of the Mercedes-AMG A45.

The model range again consists of the base model petrol A180, the petrol A200 and diesel A200d, the warm A250 Sport (now with all-wheel drive) and the aforementioned all-paw AMG model, which is the world’s fastest four-cylinder car.

We already know the full pricing and specifications for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz A-Class range, and we’ve driven theA250 Sport and Mercedes-AMG A45, too.

Mercedes-AMG GLA45 – Q1

The updated powertrain from the A45 will be added to the renamed Mercedes-AMG GLA45.

That updated four-cylinder turbo petrol engine has 280kW of power and 475Nm of torque – increases of 15kW and 25Nm over the old Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG.

Expect a couple of new gadgets, too.

Mercedes-AMG CLA45 – Q1

The updated powertrain from the A45 will be added to the renamed Mercedes-AMG CLA45.

That updated four-cylinder turbo petrol engine has 280kW of power and 475Nm of torque – increases of 15kW and 25Nm over the old Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG.

Expect a couple of new gadgets, too. A facelifted version of the CLA may arrive Down Under by years’ end, too.

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class – April

The replacement for the Mercedes-Benz GL is the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The S is supposed to represent its apparent alignment with the S-Class, in that this is most luxurious SUV from the Stuttgart maker.

The heavily facelifted model will see slightly higher prices than the GL, but also more standard kit to offset – and even improve, according to the company – the value-for-money proposition of the seven-seat SUV range.

Along with the revised styling there have been refinements to the cabin that include a revised instrument cluster, new three-spoke steering wheel, floating tablet-style 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and a redesigned centre console with Mercedes’ new touchpad controller.

The line-up includes the diesel-powered GLS350d (replacing GL 350 Bluetec), along with the petrol V6 GLS400 and V8 GLS500.

We know the full pricing and specifications for the Mercedes-Benz GLS range – read it here. Stay tuned for our review of the new model early in the second quarter of 2016.

Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid models – Q2

Not one, not two, but three plug-in hybrid models from Mercedes-Benz will launch at once in the second quarter of 2016: the S-Class Plug-In Hybrid, the C-Class Plug-In Hybrid and the GLE-Class Plug-In Hybrid.

The S500e plug-in model uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine as one half of its powertrain, with combined outputs of 325kW and 650Nm torque – a not-so-direct equation of adding the petrol’s 245kW/480Nm with the electric motor’s 85kW/340Nm.

It can charge in as little as two hours on a fast-charger or four at home, and it has 33km of claimed range. Fuel use is claimed at just 2.8 litres per 100km.

This is the same powertrain used in the GLE500e model, which claims fuel use of 3.3L/100km.

The C350e plug-in’s petrol unit is the brand’s familiar 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four. This tag-teams with a 60kW/340Nm electric motor. Combined, the pair makes up to 205kW/600Nm in total system output.

Stay tuned for full pricing and specifications of the plug-in models as news comes to hand.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe – Q2

The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe will hit showrooms in the second quarter of 2016, with the German brand’s sporty rival to the likes of the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5 expected to size up slightly better than the model it replaces.

That’s in part down to the fact the new C Coupe is larger – and more luxurious – than before, spanning 95mm longer and 40mm wider than the car it replaces, and back-seat space should be improved due to a wheelbase stretch of 80mm.

Petrol and diesel engines will be offered, including the base model C200 petrol (with 135kW/300Nm), the base model C250d (with 150kW and 500Nm) the C300 petrol (with 180kW/380Nm) and the flagship Mercedes-AMG C63 AMG S with a 375kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

The tweaked Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG Coupe will also arrive before the end of the year.

Pricing and full specifications have not yet been revealed, though the company has confirmed it will offer the cars “heavily specified”, with a price range similar to the existing C-Class Coupe line-up (starting about $60K, ranging up to $160K for the AMG).

Read our review of the C-Class Coupe here.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class – Q3

The updated Mercedes-Benz SL-Class was unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show, bringing a new look, new tech and some interior revisions.

The updated SL – which is a facelift for the version of the brand’s most expensive convertible that went on sale in 2012 – brings a new-look bonnet with ‘powerdomes’, and a new bumper to give the car a cosmetic point of difference over its predecessor. There’s also a diamond grille and standard LED headlights with auto high-beam.

Mercedes’ latest active and preventative safety tech is fitted, including autonomous braking, radar cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane assist and parking assist. There’s also integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and support for various streaming apps.

The new SL features “Active Body Control”, which can tilt the body of the in corners.

New drivetrains will be offered, including the SL400 3.0-litre turbo V6 pumping out 270kW/500Nm and the 4.7-litre V8 in the SL500 now makes 335kW/ 700Nm. Both have new nine-speed automatic transmissions.

The Mercedes-AMG models include the SL63 with a 430kW/900Nm 5.5-litre biturbo V8, and the SL65 with a 6.0-litre bi-turbo with 463kW/1000Nm.

Expect pricing and specifications for the new SL-Class to be announced closer to the car’s launch in the third quarter of 2016.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet – Q3

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is the brand’s first open-topped luxury four-seater since 1971, completing the S-Class range by sitting alongside the S-Class sedan and the S-Class Coupe.

The ‘entry’ S-Class cabriolet is the S500 variant powered by a 4.7-litre V8 with 335kW/700Nm (from 1800rpm), sending torque to the rear wheels via a nine-speed auto. All versions get Airmatic air suspension.

The S63 4Matic version has a 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 with 430kW and a staggering 900Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels (the 4Matic system is rear-biased). The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of the behemoth is just 3.9 seconds.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but expect it to carry a premium over the Coupe model which is priced at $318,610 for the S500 and $398,610 for the AMG S63.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class – Q4

Set for its international debut at the 2016 Detroit auto show, the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class brings with it plenty of new technology and a completely revised look inside and out.

We’ve seen the interior, which looks very similar to the S-Class – in that it is hugely luxurious – and the focus of the cabin is clearly the huge infotainment and instrument display made up of two 12.3-inch screens.

Mercedes-Benz has also claimed a first for the automotive industry, adding a pair of touchpads to the steering wheel controls that allow certain on-screen functions to be controlled and menus to be navigated through by swiping as one would on a laptop touchpad or a smartphone screen.

The new model will also debut a new level of autonomous driving technology with its Active Lane Change Assist function, which uses a series of radars and a stereo camera to support the driver to complete lane changes.

Expect a range of petrol and diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid model and the unquestionable Mercedes-AMG E63 model to follow, though likely in 2017.

Stay tuned for full pricing and specifications ahead of the car’s debut in Australia in the last few months of the year.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe – Q4

Nothing is confirmed just yet, but there’s every chance that the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe will arrive on sale here late in 2016. The picture above is the GLC Coupe Concept.

The first-ever example of the GLC with a sloping roofline will complement the more practicality-focused GLC-Class SUV in a similar way to the GLE Coupe and its GLE sibling.

Expect similar engine offerings – petrol, diesel, and a high-output AMG V8 – to the regular GLC range, and a slightly less practical boot.