It’s the beginning of a new year, and as we bid a not so fond farewell to 2021, I prefer to focus more on the future and what it has to offer. In particular, I can’t help but be excited about the vehicles that are going to start hitting the road this year–at least in theory. After the last 12 months and everything it brought, there’s no telling what will actually get through production this year.
Still, as an undeterred optimist, I’m going to assume that things will regain a sense of normalcy, that production will get rolling, and that we’ll see some of these impressive 2023 models before the end of the year. Just don’t come after me if any of these slip off the calendar and end up as 2024 models–I’m not running the auto industry (yet), just telling you about it.
One: 2023 Acura Integra
If you’re a fan of four-door sports cars, then the return of the Acura Integra should be at the top of your list for exciting new vehicles. Word going around is that this will share a lot of the platform of the Honda Civic Si, with a turbocharged 1.5L engine that will deliver a great time on the road. A lot of people are hoping that we’ll also see Integra Type S and Type R models, which would bring even sportier performance and more power to this lineup.
Two: 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06
Although the current mid-engine Corvette is plenty of sports car for a lot of people, the engineers and designers at Chevy aren’t about to call it a day. The Z06 coming later this year is the first of several high-performance upgrades the C8 is getting. This will feature a naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 engine that delivers 670 hp for an even more exhilarating drive than the standard Corvette. We’re likely to see a more powerful ZR1 model sometime next year, and rumors of an upcoming all-electric E-Ray have been circulating wildly.
Three: 2023 Chevy Silverado EV
As you might already know, Chevy isn’t going to watch Rivian, Ford, Tesla, and others have all the fun with all-electric pickups. They’re throwing their hat into the ring with a Silverado EV model that is sure to keep them right at the top of your list if you’re interested in an electric truck. This is one of the most intriguing models to watch as the war for the most powerful and impressive EV truck really kicks off and undoubtedly changes the auto industry.
Four: 2023 Ferrari Purosangue
After seeing Porsche and Lamborghini do it, Ferrari is finally jumping onto the trend with their own high-performance SUV model: the Purosangue. We all heard that Ferrari was adamantly against creating an SUV, but since SUVs have become the top-selling vehicles for their legendary competitors, they just couldn’t hold off any longer. This beauty is expected to start at well over a quarter-of-a-million bucks, so this isn’t exactly the Chevy Trax we’re talking about here, but did you expect anything less from a Ferrari?
Five: 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor
Speaking of impressive SUVs, the return of the Ford Bronco was definitely one of the highlights last year (assuming you got one and weren’t put on the seemingly endless waiting list). For this year, Ford is going even further and bringing an all-new Bronco Raptor to the table for incredible off-road performance and power. Although details are still scarce, a lot of people expect a twin-turbo V6 engine putting out 400 hp or more, and it will likely be an exclusively four-door option.
Six: 2023 Nissan Ariya
Not one to be left behind by other manufacturers bringing electric SUVs to market, Nissan is joining in with their all-electric Ariya. Expected to start rolling out this Fall, the Ariya is an impressive SUV with up to 300 miles of range from a full charge. Although the standard setup features a 238 hp front motor, there’s an available performance option with an e-4ORCE (Nissan’s spelling, not mine) dual-motor system that delivers 389 hp for less range but a more exhilarating drive.
Seven: 2023 Nissan Z
Following in the footsteps of legendary sports cars like the Nissan 370Z and 240Z, the all-new Nissan Z (no number this time) is set to be the next evolutionary step in this lineup of vehicles. It will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine that delivers 400 hp and will feature a 6-speed manual transmission, with a 9-speed automatic available. As you might expect, it will get a whole host of upgrades inside and out, with technology and connectivity features to set it on par with the best modern sports cars.
Eight: 2023 Ram Dakota
Full disclosure: it’s entirely possible that this truck won’t hit the market this year since various auto news outlets have been talking about it for a couple of years now. You can find sites referring to it as a 2021 or 2022 model, and that obviously hasn’t happened yet, so don’t go and pre-order it right now. That being said, there are a lot of rumors that Ram wants to offer a midsize option since their competitors have that market all to themselves, and the return of the Dakota nameplate seems likely to happen. There’s really nothing set in stone here–not even a confirmation from Ram–but it could definitely be something they reveal or announce this year.
Nine: 2023 Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla took the industry by storm in 2020 when they announced and revealed their all-new, all-electric Cybertruck. Whether you went in for the marketing and hype or not, there’s no denying that a lot of people got excited about this strangely designed and inarguably innovative pickup option. Since it was first announced and started raking in money on pre-orders, however, Tesla has faced a whole lot of delays, and the Cybertruck is now set to start rolling out sometime late this year. To be honest, there’s a chance this could slip into a 2024 model and not start reaching customers until sometime next year, but it’s only January, so I’m not ready to be cynical just yet.
Ten: 2023 Toyota bZ4X
Despite having one of the worst names for a vehicle I’ve ever seen, the all-new bZ4X (seriously, try typing that a few times) is Toyota’s entry for a sleek, modern EV SUV. It’s still early days, so details are far from set in stone, but the bZ4X is set to get an estimated 250 miles of range from a full charge. To me, the most exciting thing about this model (I’m not typing the name again) is that this is the first vehicle to utilize Toyota’s new e-TNGA electric platform, so it sets the stage for a lot of new EV models to follow it. From what I’ve seen, this is a great start, and the interior looks stunning thanks to a 12.3-inch infotainment display and a fixed panoramic moonroof.
Which Cars are You Excited For?
As you can see, there’s a lot to look forward to this year, regardless of whether you prefer a powerful sports car, a hard-working truck, or a spacious SUV. The growing EV market is undoubtedly the one to watch as numerous manufacturers draw nearer to the deadlines they set for themselves to go either completely emission-free or close to it with their lineups. Throughout the next year, not only are we going to be seeing these impressive vehicles, but even more exciting options are sure to be announced and revealed. There’s no denying that this is a great time to be a car fan; the shift from ICE to EV might be scary, but so was going from horses and buggies to automobiles–and that seems to have worked out.
