2023 WISHLIST: 10 New Cars We Wish Are Launched in PH This Year

The past year has been great for the Philippine automotive industry with plenty of new car models introduced in the market. Nationwide car sales numbers are also now very close to pre-pandemic levels signaling a full recovery not far ahead. 

As we welcome another new year, we are hopeful and with that, we once again round up a list of new models we hope to see launched in our market this year. If you want to see our list from last year, you can click here. Of the 10 models we mentioned in our wishlist, 7 were introduced last year, with some making waves in the local car scene.

---

In no particular order, here are 10 new cars that we hope to see launched in the Philippines this year:

Ford Ranger Raptor

After the successful launch of the new generation of the Ford Ranger, this year would probably be a great time to introduce its high performance version, the Ranger Raptor. Once the most popular 4×4 pickup truck in the country, and with our market as one of its top markets worldwide, it would be a missed opportunity for Ford not to introduce the Ranger Raptor soon. With an even more powerful 3.0 Ecoboost V6 under the hood, and lots of improvements in capability, and of course the much tougher and macho looking design, we won’t be surprised to see this on top once again if launched.

Ford Territory

The popularity of the Ford Territory in the Philippines is undeniable. The blue oval’s compact SUV offering easily rose to become the segment’s top-selling model ever since it was introduced locally in 2020. And while we are still seeing plenty of the Territory sold locally, other foreign markets such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mexico are already enjoying the 2nd generation Territory which is based on the Chinese-market Equator Sport. 

Honda Civic Type R (FL5)

The current 11th-generation of the Honda Civic was introduced locally in 2021 with a more mature, sophisticated, and more premium feel inside and out. Of course, Honda did not forget to give enthusiasts what they want and that’s what the Civic Type R is for. The previous generation was quite successful in the local market with stocks selling-out fast. With the recent discontinuation of local Civic Type R sales, we won’t be surprised if Honda Cars Philippines is now gearing up for the introduction of the new model.

Honda CR-V

One of the OG crossovers, Honda has already introduced an all-new 6th generation of the CR-V in the North American and Chinese market. The current generation sold locally became very popular with its turbodiesel engine and 7-passenger seating layout, a combination that always wins a Filipino SUV buyer’s heart. With the new one already sighted testing in Thailand where we source local units from, we’re expecting a regional debut within the next couple months. Hopefully we see a local launch before the year ends, and perhaps a hybrid version to fight with its main competitor, the Toyota RAV4 which is only available locally as a hybrid.

Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona may have been axed from the Korean automaker’s local lineup but that does not mean it can’t make a comeback. The subcompact crossover has recently received a new generation, unveiled just before the Christmas holidays. It gets a whole new look, with a more futuristic appearance than before, following Hyundai’s new design language. With the subcompact crossover segment becoming more popular by the day, the introduction of the new Kona in the Philippine market can definitely help the new management get some more traction locally.

Mazda CX-60

With crossovers being all the rage right now, Mazda Philippines understandably has a lot in its lineup. But there’s a new one that they can add and that’s the CX-60. According to some sources, Mazda Philippines is already studying the possibility of bringing the new compact SUV into the local market. Just like the smaller CX-30, the CX-60 follows a slightly more rugged design approach while retaining Mazda’s very sleek and premium signature look. If launched, the Mazda CX-60 may have larger displacement engines under the hood. These will either be a 3.3L 6-cylinder turbodiesel or gasoline powertrain, both with M-Hybrid technology. As of now though, Mazda Philippines does not want to commit to the model’s introduction. It would be great though to have this new SUV in the lineup.

Mitsubishi Xpander Cross

The heavily revised Mitsubishi Xpander was introduced in the market last year. Of course, with that should come an updated Xpander Cross and that was revealed last year at the 29th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS). The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross receives a similar facelift treatment as that of the regular Xpander but with a more rugged implementation. Same goes for the interior which gets a new dashboard design as well as some tech upgrades such as a larger infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.

As of January 4, 2023, the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is confirmed to arrive in the Philippines on January 26, 2023.

Nissan Z

The Nissan 370Z may have arrived very late in the game in the country, but that does not mean the new one will. Sources point to a possibility that Nissan Philippines is already working on planning the launch of the all-new Z which is probably very much-awaited by local car enthusiasts as well. Receiving a major redesign after more than a decade, the all-new Z is a mash-up of previous generations, giving it that classic modern retro vibe. It also gets a smaller but more powerful 3.0L twin turbo V6 engine. Knowing how aggressive Nissan Philippines has been in the past two years, we are hoping to see this kickstart 2023 for the brand.

Toyota Innova Hybrid

One last year’s biggest news in the automotive industry was the reveal of the all-new Toyota Innova in Indonesia. That’s not only because of it being one of the bestselling MPVs, but also because it now comes with a hybrid powertrain option and loses the turbodiesel, and is now a crossover-based MPV as well. Now built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) Platform, the Innova now shares its underpinnings with vehicles like the Toyota Raize, Avanza, and Veloz. Now we don’t know if we’ll be getting a hybrid powertrain in the local market but based on Toyota Motor Philippines’ current direction, it is very likely. It will definitely be interesting considering the Philippine market’s love for diesels and skepticism of electrified vehicles.

Toyota Vios

The Toyota Vios has always been one of the most important products of Toyota Motor Philippines, consistently taking the top spot in vehicle car sales charts  in the country. Unveiled last year, the new generation Vios is now built on the DNGA Platform as well. While it remains powered by the same engines, we are seeing more premium appointments on the exterior and interior based on photos, as well as more tech. We don’t know when TMP plans to begin local manufacturing of the all-new Vios and when they plan to launch, but again, very important.