2020 vision

AUDI

It's another busy year for Audi with a range of model facelifts, updates and new models due in 2020. In dealerships now nationwide, Audi's sleek Q3 Sportback, a coupé-SUV is priced from €41,100 OTR and is available with the TDI engine with 150HP or the 230HP 2.0-litre TFSI. If you are looking for a plug-in family car, the Q5 55 TFSI e comes with a range of over 40 kilometres and a top speed of 135kph in electric-only mode. Prices start at €57,500 OTR. Other plug-in hybrids to join the Audi range include an A8, A7 and Q7.

Refreshed for 2020 is the A4, Audi's rival for the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Volvo S60 and Lexus IS. It has been tweaked on the outside and refreshed inside. On the road prices for the new model start from €41,520. Also due in time for January 2020 is a refreshed A5 Sportback and the A5 Coupé featuring a mild hybrid technology. Prices are not yet confirmed. Audi's luxury Q7 gets a subtle exterior redesign while an SQ8 flagship SUV and a redesigned RS7 with aV8 and 591bhp join the range also. Looking further ahead the new all-electric Q4 e-tron crossover will be here at the beginning of 2021. With a 74kW battery pack, it is expected to have a range of 450km.

BMW

A new BMW X6 will launch next week and is priced from €95,960. With polarising looks it was an answer to a question no-one asked when it launched in 2008 but despite this it has spawned a slew of rivals including the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé, Range Rover Velar and the Porsche Cayenne Coupé. The third generation is a little less marmite and even a little more practical.

Also joining the range is the second-generation X5 xDrive45e plug-in with an electrically powered range of 86km. Prices start from €82,310 RRP (excluding Government and SEAI Grant). Arriving in March BMW's new 2 Series Gran Coupé will be priced from €34,010. BMW's latest electrified model to go on sale this year is the X3 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid and it will be joined by an all-electric X3 model. Prices start from €61,690 RRP (excluding Government and SEAI Grant). Fast-car fans will be keen to see the limited-edition M2 CS. With only 35 produced, it uses intelligent lightweight construction with extensive use of carbon fibre. On sale from spring 2020, prices are yet to be confirmed. An i4, all-electric four-door saloon is likely to be unveiled next year.

CITROEN

Mid-year, Citroen will introduce its first plug-in hybrid and should provide a much-needed boost to the brand. The C5 Aircross PHEV will use an 80kWh four-cylinder petrol engine paired to an electric motor and 13.2kW lithium-ion battery to deliver a 50km fully electric WLTP range. Prices for the new model have not been confirmed.

CUPRA

Cupra, the new sporty spin-off from SEAT will launch their Formentor at the end of 2020. The new plug-in hybrid SUV can drive in pure electric mode for up to 50km. A Cupra-badged version of the 2020 Leon will also launch in 2020.

DACIA

Affordable, robust and spacious, it is easy to understand the appeal of the Duster. Improvements for 2020 include a new, more efficient TCe100 petrol engine.

DS

Two new models join the DS range in 2020, a compact SUV, the DS 3 Crossback and an electric version, the 3 Crossback E-TENSE. No pricing or launch dates are confirmed as yet.

FIAT

It's been a quiet year for the Italian brand but next year we will see a fully electric version of the evergreen 500 which is expected to be revealed at the Geneva Motor show in March.

FORD

Due to go on sale at the end of the year, the all-new Ford Puma mild hybrid SUV will be one of eight 'electrified' vehicles that Ford will launch in 2020. Also due in 2020 is a new Kuga petrol plug-in hybrid with a pure-electric driving range of more than 50km and a Mustang Mach E, all-electric performance SUV.

HONDA

It's a busy time for Honda with six electrified models set to launch over the next 36 months with the Honda e and new Hybrid-only Jazz leading the way in 2020. The Jazz is due here in spring 2020 with the Honda e EV to follow.

HYUNDAI

Following the success of the Kona, a new hybrid version has just arrived in dealerships and is priced from €28,495. Sporting a new look and redesigned dash, the all-electric 2020 Hyundai Ioniq comes with an increased range of 312km and prices start from €34,850. Following its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September, the new i10 is more stylish on the outside and smarter on the inside. Prices start from €14,245.

JAGUAR

There will be a heavily upgraded and revised F-TYPE from Jaguar in the spring.

JEEP

A PHEV version of the new Renegade is expected in the middle of next year.

KIA

With SUVs becoming ever more popular with buyers it's little surprise that Kia is adding to their range with the addition in Spring of a PHEV version of the newly launched XCeed. A facelifted version of the e-Niro will arrive at the same time and new in dealerships this month is a Sportage 1.6D with Mild Hybrid Technology.

LAND ROVER

Due here in March 2020 is the all new Defender while 2020 will also see the introduction of PHEV models across the Discovery, Sport and Range Rover Evoque ranges.

LEXUS

The luxury label kicks off the year with the launch in January of their 2020 updated RX. The large SUV gets a new front design and interior with a touch screen and Apple Carplay/Android Auto and the Lexus Safety System Plus as standard.

MAZDA

Mazda's third SUV, the CX-30, arrives in dealerships this month and comes with a choice of a 1.8 diesel and two petrol engines. A new Mazda2 launches in January and a new CX-5 is expected in the middle of 2020. The second half of the year will see the arrival of the much anticipated MX-30, Mazda's first mass-production electric vehicle. Unveiled at the Toyko Motor show last month the MX-30 comes with a 35.5kWh battery offering a range of approximately 210km.

MERCEDES-BENZ

2020 is shaping up to be a busy year for the German carmaker with six new or revised models on the way including a new GLS SUV model; a mid-size GLB SUV that includes a 7-seater version; a GLE Coupé; a GLA Compact SUV and a much-anticipated new S-Class.

The Mercedes electric range will expand in June with the arrival of EQV. This V-Class based all-electric MPV has a 100kWh battery to give it a range of 400km-plus and similar to the V-Class, comes with a 7-or-8-seat configuration.

MINI

To mark the 60th anniversary of MINI an all-electric version was unveiled. Prices start from €27,765 OTR for the Cooper SE and we can expect to see it in Irish showrooms next March. The lithium-ion battery is capable of covering 235 to 270km on a single charge. A range-topping Cooper Works GP will be launched next year also.

MITSUBISHI

Mitsubishi starts the year with a new Space Star. Powering the range is a new 1.2 litre petrol model which will be available in both manual and automatic transmission. A new Eclipse Cross PHEV will arrive in Ireland in October.

NISSAN

The long-overdue replacement for Nissan's Juke has just arrived in dealerships across the country. Available with a 1.0 petrol engine prices start from €21,995. For 2020, the Micra has been significantly upgraded with a new, more powerful engine and an SV Premium grade. Other changes to the Nissan range in 2020 include a new Qashqai grade, the SE replaces the SV and comes with a price reduction of approximately €1,200.

OPEL

The new Corsa will be the most important model for Opel and arrives at the end of the month. Outside the look is edgy while inside, creature comforts abound including a 10in colour touchscreen with an infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An all-electric version will follow in March with a 50kw battery and a 330km range. Prices are unconfirmed at this stage but the e-Corsa is likely to start around €26,000. A hybrid Grandland X will join the range in Spring also. In Autumn an all-new, second-generation Opel Mokka X will launch along with the Vivaro e - an electric version of its Vivaro van - which is set to go on sale next year with a zero-emission range of up to 300km.

PEUGEOT

January marks the start of an important year for the French carmaker with the arrival of the 208 and all-electric e-208. It will also be offered with four petrol options, a 1.5 diesel and electric. Prices start from €18,300 for the Active 1.2 PureTech 75bhp. Also scheduled for early 2020 is the arrival of the 2008 and the 3008 Hybrid4. Peugeot's new 508 plug-in hybrid Fastback and SW will go on sale here in December, with the first cars arriving in early 2020.

PORSCHE

Porsche aims to generate half of its sales from electric cars by 2025 and as part of that strategy unleashed their Tesla rival, the Taycan, earlier this year and a Macan EV is likely to follow in 2020.

RENAULT

The Clio is one of the world's most successful cars, an impressive 15 million have been sold since it first drove off with the European Car of the Year award in 1991. A new fifth-generation Clio has just arrived in showrooms. It is lighter, more spacious and more efficient. Prices start from €16,990 and a new e-tech hybrid will join the range next year. Elsewhere in the range the new Renault ZOE R with a 52 kWh battery and a driving range of more than 390km has just been launched and Renault's pioneering Captur gets a revamp, adding clever technology and stylish enhancements. A revised Koleos will join the range in 2020.

SEAT

Next year heralds the introduction of el-Born, the first all-electric SEAT. Sharing much with the VW ID.3 the el-Born will be equipped with a 62kWh battery pack. Next year a new next-generation Leon will launch in the second quarter with a range of petrol and diesel engines. A plug-in hybrid will be introduced later in the year. SEAT's seven-seat Tarraco will be available in FR trim and as a plug-in hybrid in 2020.

SKODA

Setting their sights on the Seat Arona and Volkswagen T-Cross market, Skoda's Kamiq small crossover has just launched. Based on the same platform as the Scala hatchback, its engine options include a 1.0 and 1.5 turbo petrol and a 1.6 diesel. Prices start from €21,300. In time for 201 sales, a plug-in hybrid version of the popular Superb will launch. The fourth generation of Skoda's Octavia will be on sale in Ireland from July of next year.

SSANGYONG

The new Korando C300 will be officially launched here on Friday, December 6.

SUBARU

As demand for hybrid cars is on the increase Subaru is introducing a mild-hybrid petrol-electric system called e-Boxer, to their XV Crossover and the all-new Forester. Arriving this month, the Forester is priced from €47,045 ex-grants while the XV crossover will arrive in December and will be priced from €41,495 ex-grants.

TESLA

Tesla's smaller, simpler, more affordable car, the Model 3 was launched in Ireland this summer. A new compact SUV, Model Y is due out in 2020.

TOYOTA

Toyota's popular crossover the C-HR gets revised styling for 2020 and a new 2.0-litre hybrid. Inside a new multimedia system upgrades Toyota's connectivity.

Vw

Like so many other marques, 2020 will be a busy year for the Volkswagen brand, which begins with the revised Passat lineup which now has a new GTE model. With a larger battery it can achieve 55km on EV-only power and costs €46,496 after the relevant grants.

The T-Roc gets the 'R' treatment and will be priced from €53,750. The latest ever-popular Golf comes to Ireland at the end of March and, in keeping with the model's history, the styling is still very much in keeping with tradition. Gone is the e-Golf from the new model lineup, but there will be a series of mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid and new petrol and diesel engines.

The most significant new model for Volkswagen will arrive in the summer, the electric ID.3 with a 58-kWh battery and a range of 420km. However, there will also be 45-kWh (330km range) and 77-kWh (550km range) versions to complete the model line-up which will follow, most likely in 2021. Prices haven't been released yet, but we know the 45-kWh battery models will start at under €30,000. Later in 2020, Volkswagen is expected to reveal a second ID model, this time an SUV in a similar vein to the Tiguan, except fully electric. Expect to see more details on this mid-year.

VOLVO

It's an important year for the Swedish brand with the launch of an XC40 plug-in hybrid in March. The new engine is 262 bhp, FWD, plug-in petrol hybrid and after grants is priced from €46,495. A plug-in hybrid version of the V60 and S60 will also join the range with prices starting from €72,293 and €69,022 respectively. A V60 Cross Country D4 AWD 190bhp automatic with a starting price of €52,550 will launch in March. Volvo's first all-electric XC40 with a 75kWh battery and an expected range of more than 400km will arrive next year and a new V40 is likely at the end of 2020. New also for 2020 is that the top speed on all Volvos will be electronically limited to 180km.