The all-new iX is BMW’s flagship electric model due here in November.
Thinking of buying a new car this year well the good news is there’s more choice than ever before writes Geraldine Herbert
BMW iX
Priced from €85,815 OTR when it arrives in November BMW’s new iX Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is the German Car makers’ first model to bring together the latest developments in electrification, connectivity, design and services and will be the flagship electric model for the brand. There will be two variants the iX xDrive50 and iX xDrive40 and it will have a range of up to 613 km (WLTP) on a single charge and will charge to 80% in 35mins in the iX xDrive50 or 31 minutes in the iX xDrive40. One of the highlights of the iX is the use of recycled and sustainable material throughout. The car’s interior features leather tanned with olive leaf extracts and other natural materials. Among the raw materials used for the floor coverings and mats are recovered fishing nets.
BMW i4
Vying for the same customers as the Tesla Model 3, the new i4 all-electric saloon is due to go on sale later this year and is essentially an electrified version of the current 4-Series with that contentious 4-Series front grille. It is expected the most powerful version will come with a performance equivalent to an electric M3. Due here in November the BMW i4 eDrive40 starts at €63,565 OTR. The new model is rear-wheel drive with a range of up to 590 km. A range of up to 164 kms can be delivered within a 10-minute with Combined Charging Unit at DC high-power charging stations with an output up to 200kW.
Citroen C5 X
New for 2021 is the flagship model for Citroen, the C5 X. Inspired by the CXperience Concept that was unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show it is expected here before the end of the year. Citroen reckons it will be one of the most comfortable in the world as the C5 X breaks new ground with the World Premiere of the Citroën Advanced Comfort active suspension system. The new Citroen is an intriguing hybrid of an estate car, crossover and SUV with an emphasis on space, comfort and practicality. It will be Citroen’s alternative to the Ford Mondeo, Mazda 6 or Opel Insignia and will be available with a petrol powertrain or a 225hp plug-in.
CUPRA Born
Cupra recently unveiled the Born electric hatchback, the first dedicated electric vehicle for the brand and a sister model of the Volkswagen ID.3. Both EVs are built on the VW Group MEB-based family hatch platform and the overall body size and shape is almost identical to that of the ID.3. Available with three battery pack sizes: 45 kWh, 58 kWh and 77 kWh there will be a choice of two electric engines, a 148hp unit and a 202hp one. The battery can be recharged to 80% in 35 minutes on a 125 kWh fast charge. Pricing has yet to be announced.
DS 9
Due later in the year the DS9 is the largest car yet from the French company. Large French saloons are a very hard sell in Ireland but the DS9 hopes to change this. The car is 4.93m long so the long wheelbase provides plenty of rear legroom. Several powertrains will be offered including two E-Tense PHEV systems with a maximum electric-only range of 53 km.
FORD Mustang Mach-E
Ford will be blazing a trail this year with the Mustang Mach-E, an SUV-styled crossover rather than a muscular sports car. While the jury is still out on the idea of fitting a Mustang badge to an electric SUV that said, the 0-100 km/h time of less than four seconds bodes well for Mustang DNA. The electric Mach E arrives in September with two battery options: a 68kWh standard range version or the larger 88kWh extended range version. Depending on which battery option you go for it can travel up to a claimed 610km between charges.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
HYUNDAI Ioniq 5
Hyundai will step up its offensive on the electric car market with the arrival of the Ioniq 5 next month. Two battery sizes will be available, 72.6kWh and 58kWh and the maximum driving range on a single charge will be around 470~480 km. The Ioniq 5 is the first in a range of new electric cars with the Ioniq name, it will be joined by a saloon and an SUV in the future, most likely called Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 7.
KIA EV6
Due here in October is Kia’s all-electric EV6. There will be a choice of two models, EV6 priced from €50,000 and the EV6 GT Line with a starting price from €54,345 both are inclusive of SEAI Grants. A 77.4kWH battery is standard on both models and comes with a 510km of range. The EV6 can be topped up from 10% to 80% capacity in just 18 minutes and a new charging system essentially turns the car into a generator that can supply power to operate a 55-inch TV and an air conditioner simultaneously for more than 24 hours. It can even charge another electric car. So if you fancy hitting the road with your onboard generator, the good news is the EV6 has a towing capacity of up to 1600kg – enough to tow a caravan.
MERCEDES EQS
The stunning EQS, inspired by the new S-Class will launch in October. A fusion of high-tech and artificial intelligence there are more than 40 new inventions – including a power nap function, that closes the roller blind of the panoramic sliding sunroof, reclines the seat, adjusts the ambient lighting, and plays calming music. The luxury car will travel over 700km between charges and inside there’s an optional MBUX ‘Hyperscreen’, that covers the entire dash with graphics, with a dedicated screen for passengers to access media and more.
NISSAN Ariya
Probably one of the most important electric cars coming our way in 2021, the Ariya is an all-electric coupé crossover and is Nissan’s first brand-new EV in almost a decade after the Leaf hatchback. It will be available in five versions and with a choice of two batteries – a 63 kWh (delivering an estimated 360km range) and 87 kWh (delivering an estimated 500km range). Available to pre-order in September the first models will it is hoped will arrive at the end of the year but it is now likely to be delayed due to current chip shortage. Full pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch.
RENAULT Arkana
Launching this Summer the Renault Arkana is a coupe SUV based on the same platform as the Captur and the Clio. Customers will be able to choose between a 1.6-litre hybrid E-Tech powertrain 1.2 kWh lithium-ion battery and two electric motors as already offered in the Clio and several other models, as well as a 1.3-litre engine with mild-hybrid technology.
SUBARU Outback
Subaru’s Outback blends the practicality of an estate with the styling cues of an SUV and for 2021 there is a new model. Due here in the Autumn, it promises to be the toughest, most rugged and most capable version yet. Competing with the likes of the BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 Allroad and Volvo’s V90 Cross Country, the new model will provide a much-needed boost to the Subaru line-up.
TOYOTA Yaris Cross
Sharing a platform with the regular Yaris hatchback the Yaris Cross arrives this summer. With a high-riding driving position and more ground clearance, it is Toyota’s first B-SUV segment car and will compete with the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross. The Yaris Cross will sit below the C-HR in the Toyota range and will be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol that works in conjunction with an electric motor to produce a combined 114bhp. Prices are expected in the coming weeks.
VOLKSWAGEN Polo
A revised Polo model arrives in Ireland in December, with a choice of three different power outputs from the tried and trusted 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine and the potential for new hybrid or mild hybrid models to follow. Prices are expected to start under €20,000. The Polo will be offered in Life, Style and R-Line versions and VW tell us it will come with more connectivity thanks to MIB.3 and Wireless Apple CarPlay.
VOLVO XC40
It’s an important year for the Swedish brand with the launch of Volvo’s first all-electric XC40 Recharge. With a range of more than 400km, the all-wheel-drive SUV has an output of 408hp and the battery charges to 80% of its capacity in 40 minutes on a fast-charger system. The XC40 will also be the first Volvo car to have the new Google Android-based interface.
Geraldine Herbert
24th June 2021
