2011 New Cars
WHILE MORE BUDGET-PRICED CARS WILL BE LAUNCHED THIS YEAR, EXOTIC MODELS WILL HAVE AN EQUALLY JOVIAL TIME IN ATTRACTING FAT WALLETS.
The BT-50 pick-up has a car-like appearance.
- After displaying a near-production version of the Brio Ecocar last month, Honda hopes to put the final product in showrooms by March. No technical details have been released yet, although the engine is understood to be a 1.2-litre petrol unit. The dimensions of the Brio are slightly smaller than the Nissan March's. Honda hopes to sell it at prices starting from 400,000 baht.
- Nissan will be adding a saloon body to the March model range after mid-year. Looking like the four-door Sunny sold in China, the brand's next Ecocar variation looks substantially different from the hatchback. The engine is understood to be a further development of the March's 1.2-litre three-pot petrol motor.
- The all-new Mazda 3 makes a belated entry to the Thai market in the first quarter. There will be saloon and hatchback bodies to choose from, uprated petrol motors and a new five-speed automatic transmission. Also to watch out for is the next-generation Civic from Honda due at the end of the year, rounding off the battle in the C-segment.
- While the new Yaris hasn't been announced yet, Toyota did so for the Vitz in Japan last month (they just have different names). The B-segment hatchback has a bolder look, and improved engine and new CVT automatic transmission. The earliest it could go on sale is the third quarter, although Toyota has the chance to make it as an Ecocar - neither of which have been officially confirmed.
- In the third quarter, Ford and Mazda introduce the next-generation Ranger and BT-50 pickups, sporting new 2.2- and 3.2-litre turbo-diesels with six-speed manual or automatic gearbox to choose from. Ford will have two more things Mazda won't: a 2.5-litre petrol engine for buyers wanting to convert to CNG and an SUV derivative replacing the Everest.
- Also due to arrive this year, but not officially revealed yet, is the all-new Colorado pickup from Chevrolet. And for the first time, there will be a yet-to-be-named SUV variation to rival the likes of the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner. Powerplants are understood to be 2.5- and 2.8-litre units.
The new Yaris has a sharper look.
The Ranger goes for a bold 4x4 look.
The Sunny is set to be badged the March Sedan.
The Mazda with hatch and saloon bodies is a late arrival in Thailand.
The Brio is smaller than the Nissan March.
B1-2m
- Hyundai is likely to launch the all-new Sonata at the year's end to rival the likes of the Honda Accord. Boasting a stylish body, the Sonata comes with 2.0- and 2.4-litre petrol engines. It will be interesting to see if the Korean car-maker will build a hybrid version in the country to match the Toyota Camry Hybrid in the 1.5 million baht price range.
The Sonata has hybrid power to chase the Toyota Camry—if Hyundai wants to.
- After importing the 207 saloon from the Peugeot/Naza JV in Malaysia, the local Peugeot distributor is hoping to bring in the bigger 408 - the saloon body of the 308 hatchback - after production begins there. Powered with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and four-speed auto, the 408 could come at less than 1.5 million baht.
- Motor Image Subaru Thailand hopes to add some colour in showrooms with a new B-segment hatchback in April. The Trezia - a rebadged Toyota Ractic/Verso S - comes with a 1.3-litre inline-four engine and CVT automatic slated to cost just over 1 million baht. It's expensive as it's imported from Japan.
- Following the new joint venture Volkswagen has formed with DRB Hicom in Malaysia to produce the Passat for the Asean market, the Thai VW arm has the chance to import the Toyota Camry-rivalling saloon via the Afta scheme. Specification has yet to be finalised. But by the time it goes on sale here at the end of the year, expect it to cost no more than 2 million baht.
The Trezia is a rebadged Toyota Ractis/Verso S.
The Passat is set to come from VW’s new Malaysian joint venture.
The 408 follows the 207 saloon by tapping Afta benefits.
B2-5m
- British Motors hopes to officially launch the all-new Range Rover Evoque by mid-year. Available both as a three- and five-door, the flashy-looking SUV will get either a 190hp 2.2-litre turbo-diesel or 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, the latter most likely to be detuned to less than 220hp. Prices should range from 4 to 5 million baht.
The Evoque comes as both a five- and threedoor.
- The second-generation X3 from BMW should be coming around the third quarter. It has a bigger package than before and comes with the uprated 184hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel as used in the latest 320d and 520d.
- About to make its world debut soon at a major motor show, the third-generation SLK is set to come with looks resembling that of the SLS supercar. The core-selling model will be the SLK200 CGI boasting a 204hp 1.8-litre turbo inline-four motor and seven-speed automatic. Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) hopes to get it here in time for March's Bangkok motor show.
- Although it won't be assembled in Thailand to match the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-class, the Audi A6 could be imported to satisfy fans with an inclination for the Jaguar XF and Lexus GS, possibly with petrol and diesel engines costing under 5 million.
- After launching the DS3 in Thailand late last year, the Thai Citroen agent is looking to bring the bigger DS4 to rival the Mini Countryman. Despite being rivals, Mini and Citroen share a common 1.6-litre engine distinguished by different levels of turbocharging. Like the three-door DS3, the five-door DS4 should undercut the Mini equivalent by some 600,000 baht when it goes on sale after mid-year.
The Coupe´ previews Mini’s new two-seater.
- Peugeot's all-new 508, which is an effective replacement for the 407 mid- and 607 large-size saloons, would come as the flagship car. Available with a 163hp/204hp 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and six-speed automatic, the 508 could cost some 3 million baht to stay on par with premium saloons from Germany like the BMW 320d and Mercedes-Benz C250 CDI.
- Although Lexus has already given the Thai public a sneak preview of the CT200h - at last month's Motor Expo - the official launch of Lexus's smallest hybrid-powered hatch is scheduled next month. Slated to cost between 2 and 2.5 million baht, the CT shares the same 1.8-litre petrol/electric hybrid as the Toyota Prius.
- The fifth body derivative of the Mini brand is set to come in the guise of a two-seat Coupe'. Officially confirmed in 2009 when the car was still a concept, the production-ready version is set to be launched in the third quarter of this year with the usual Cooper and Cooper S engines. If you are prepared to wait, a soft-top variant follows in 2012.
- The all-new A1 will be Audi's new entry-level hatchback aiming to snare Mini punters. An array of engines will be available for Thai agents to choose from, with the 180hp 1.4-litre petrol-turbo gunning for the Cooper S. Although the A1 lacks Mini's heritage, it could win the hearts of buyers wanting something different.
- The Alfa Romeo Mito and Giulietta - initially scheduled to come to Thai shores late last year - will now arrive this year due to the late development of the brand's new twin-clutch automatic transmission. The gearbox, which is claimed to be smoother than the flawed Selespeed automated manual, will be hooked up to Fiat's Multiair 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine.
The 508 will serve as Peugeot’s new flagship.
The CT200h, at 2 million baht, is the first luxury hybrid.
The X3 has a bigger package than before.
The DS4 is chasing the Mini Countryman.
The new A6 has evolutionary looks.
The SLK is still officially under wraps here.
The A1 lacks Mini’s heritage.
B5-10m
- Mercedes-Benz is most likely to use the Bangkok motor show in March to launch the second-generation CLS. While the high-performance variants have made significant progress in fuel economy, it's the new entry-level CLS250 - with 204hp turbo four-pot power - that is the focus of more attention.
The BMW 6-series comes as a cabrio first, with the coupe´ due later this year.
- BMW's all-new 6-series takes a spin this time by coming as soft-top first before the fixed-head coupe' arrives later in the year. The initial version is the 650i powered by a 407hp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and eight-speed auto. Expect a six-cylinder variant to help bring down the price to below 10million baht.
- Given the traditional track record of Audi in Thailand, the A8L will prove a direct rival to the BMW 7-series and Mercedes-Benz S-class in long wheelbase form. But if Audi revolutionises its product strategy, the A7 Sportback will be an interesting alternative with its sleek, five-door fastback body. Both the A7 and A8 have competitive 3.0-litre turbo-diesels suited for the Thai market.
- Jaguar Cars Thailand will be joining the diesel fray for the first time hoping to match its German opposition. The XJ flagship saloon would be getting a detuned 3.0-litre turbo V6 to reap benefits accorded under the Thai tax regime and cost around 8million baht, while the XF will run a new 190hp 2.2-litre inline-four. Auto transmission in both cars should also be updated from six- to eight-speed.
The A7 Sportback breaks away from the saloon tradition.
The CLS gets a downsized four-pot turbo.
B10-20m
- Due to the special 10% excise tax for hybrids in Thailand, the Panamera S Hybrid would become the cheapest version in the model line-up at slightly over 10 million baht. The four-door Porsche combines a 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol motor to electric motors to produce a total of 380hp.
The hybrid will be the cheapest Panamera.
- Next month, Bentley Thailand will launch the second-generation Continental GT at 19.5million baht. The 2+2 coupe' gets the same 6.0-litre bi-turbo W12 and six-speed automatic transmission as before, albeit tweaked to a higher 575hp.
- Although no official pictures have been released yet, well-placed sources have already confirmed the following to come on stream this year: the M5 from BMW with a 550hp-plus 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 at about 15million baht, and the all-new replacements for the Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche 911, both due in the fourth quarter after their debut at September's Frankfurt motor show.
The GT comes with the same bi-turbo W12.
B20m
- McLaren's first road-going supercar will be the MP4-12C, designed to rival other mid-engine cars such as the Ferrari 458 Italia. The two-seat Brit gets a 600hp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. There's no official agent in Thailand yet, but the grey market will certainly bring it over.
The MP12-4C is McLaren’s answer to the Ferrari 458.
- Wraps will be taken off another Lamborghini Gallardo in the guise of the LP570-4 Performante. Essentially the open-top variant of the Superleggera fixed-roof coupe', the Performante runs the same 570hp 5.2-litre V10 but is slightly slower due to more weight. At the year's end, Ferrari will unveil the 458 Spider using a similarly powered 4.5-litre V8 as the 458 Italia.
- Two flagship supercars from Italy will debut in March, although no official pictures have emerged yet. They are the confirmed, all-new replacements for the V12-powered Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Lamborghini Murcielago, although their model names will be different.
The Performante is an open-top Superleggera.
BIG BIKES
- The market for imported motorcycles - affectionately known as "big bikes" among local enthusiasts - will continue to grow significantly this year. The two most desirable models should be the BMW K1600 and Ducati Diavel. The K1600 cruiser stands out in its segment with a 160hp inline-six motor and will debut at March's Bangkok motor show at slightly more than 1million baht. The Diavel, on the other hand, employs a 162hp Twin engine priced from 999,000 baht.
The K1600 comes with a distinctive inline-six motor.
The Diavel has a brutal appearance.
Credit: Bangkok Post (www.bangkokpost.com)
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