With sales for electric cars significantly increasing over the last few years, it seems like going green might become the new black. So, with that in mind, here are the best electric cars set to be released in Australia in 2021.
Tesla Model S Plaid
Elon is raising the EV bar again with the Model S Plaid. The new flagship electric vehicle from Tesla is a tri-motor variant with an electric motor on the front axle and two on the rear. These motors combined provide an all-wheel-drive thrust of 820kW which sees it go from 0 to 100 km/h in an almost unbelievable 2.1 seconds. Due sometime in late 2021, the Tesla Model S Plaid has a top speed of a whopping 320km/h and can go over 800 kilometres between charges.
Audi RS e-Tron GT
Manufactured using the same platform as Porsche’s Taycan, the Audi RS e-Tron GT is the first RS model from Audi to go completely electric. Audi is entirely skipping the plug-in hybrid stage and beating rivals like Mercedes and BMW to the emission-free motoring market. With a focus on cruising rather than recovery to extend the range of its battery, the RS e-Tron GT from Audi has a two-speed transmission located on the rear axle and a high-energy 83.7kWh battery which powers two synchronic motors.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S
Because it’s a Porsche, the new Taycan Turbo S has performance in spades. With the assistance of launch control, the flagship Taycan Turbo S, is a luxury electric car that goes from 0 to 200km/h in a phenomenally fast 9.6 seconds. The new EV from Porsche also uses preservation technology designed to extend the battery’s service life while fast-charging by restricting capacity to around 200kW whenever practical.
Nissan Leaf e+
First unveiled globally back in January 2019, the original Leaf model from Nissan was already ahead of its time offering a reasonably priced zero-emission EV with a fairly conventional design. The new second-generation model Leaf e+ adds onto that original concept by adding more power and a longer range, while also introducing new technologies for semi-autonomous driving. The new 40kWh battery pack allows for a driving range of 400 kilometres, while 110kW and 320Nm outputs mean the Nissan Leaf e+ can go from 0 to 100km/h in about 10 seconds flat.
Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric
Volvo’s winner of 2019’s Wheels Car of the Year, the XC40 will be launched in 2021 with a battery-electric model. The Recharge Pure Electric from Volvo will employ a 300kW and 660Nm dual-motor that will power all four wheels, which sees it go from 0 to 100km/h in just under 5 seconds. The 78kWh lithium-ion battery in the XC40 will be able to fast charge from flat to 80% on DC in around 40 minutes, which will allow it to travel over 400km before needing a recharge.
Mustang Mach-E
The first mass-produced electric vehicle soon to be introduced from Ford will proudly wear one of the most iconic car badges in history, which also means it has a hell of a lot to live up to. Called the Ford Mustang Mach-E, this all-new and all-electric pony is said to go from 0 to 100km/h in less than four seconds, which is insanely fast. Ford says this speed is thanks to their all-wheel drive layout combined with their 75.7kWh lithium-ion battery which provides outputs of 342kW and 830Nm. This is one stallion that will surely refuse to be tamed!
BMW iX
German car manufacturer BMW has revealed their new heavily-anticipated electric SUV named iX, the production version of their earlier concept car, the Vision iNext. The new 5-seater SUV has the wheelbase of an X7, the height of an X6, and exterior dimensions of an X5. Available to purchase in Australia late in 2021, the full-time four-wheel drive iX SUV will have an 370kW available from two separate electric motors which sees it go from 0 to 100km/h in less than 5 seconds. The iX will also feature BMW’s fifth-generation electric powertrain technology and a 100kWh battery pack allowing it to travel over 600 kilometres on a full charge.
Kia Sorento PHEV
Kia is gearing up to launch their very own hybrid SUV in Australia early in 2021 with an electric motor and a four-cylinder 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which will be badged as a Sorento PHEV. The Sorento’s electric motor will provide 67kW and 304Nm, while the plug-in hybrid’s petrol engine adds 132kW and 265Nm, for a combined total of 195kW and 350Nm. The 13.8kWh lithium-ion battery in the Kia Sorento PHEV is expected to provide an all-electric range of around 40 to 50km in total. It will have at least seven separate USB charging ports on board to ensure that all of your mobiles and other devices are always fully powered.
Final thoughts
With almost every major motor show over the past few years showcasing innovations in electric-powered vehicles, it’s unsurprising that experts predict more than half of all Australians will be driving an EV within the next decade. So, it looks as though there’s no stopping the oncoming electric car revolution.
