The Lucid Air Sapphire
Launching next year to compete with performance rivals from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla, the 1,200-horsepower Lucid Air Sapphire, shown above, will claim the title of world’s “most powerful” sedan, according to the automaker. Three motors will turn the wheels, taking it to 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in less than two seconds, Lucid claims. This performance will not come cheap: In Canada, the Air Sapphire will start at $327,500, including $2,200 delivery.
LINCOLN MODEL L100 CONCEPT
The Lincoln Model L100 Concept
Ford’s luxury division sees the future of the sedan as fully autonomous, glassed- in and aerodynamic. Lincoln premiered the big, low-riding Model L100 concept in August. It’s longer than the extended Lincoln Navigator L utility vehicle. The Model L100’s front seat can be flipped around to create a lounge-like environment. The self-driving sedan is not intended for production. Its solid-state battery provides increased energy density and lower charge times.
2023 KIA EV6 GT
The Kia EV6 GT
Unassuming mass-market brand Kia is putting performance EV makers on notice with the new 578-horsepower EV6 GT. The most powerful production vehicle Kia has ever built has front and rear motors driving all four wheels. Other performance features, such as a dedicated sport suspension and new GT drive mode, differentiate it from the standard EV6. The GT is scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter. Pricing has not been released.
2023 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
The Civic Type R
The latest hot hatch from Honda has a familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, but it cranks out 315 horsepow- er and 310 pound-feet of torque, up from the previous 306/295 ratings. The Type R is based on the new-gen- eration Civic and is therefore larger and heavier than before. It requires proficient three-pedal drivers, as a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching is standard. No automatic is offered. Honda touts numerous improvements, from the cooling system to the steering and the brakes. The Type R is built in Japan and arrives this fall. Pricing has not been released.
2023 BMW I4 EDRIVE35
2023 BMW I4 EDrive35
BMW has opened the order books for an entry-level version of the i4 bat- tery-electric sedan that will qualify for both federal and provincial EV incentives. Equipped with a single motor, the rear-wheel-drive 2023 i4 eDrive35 produces an estimated 281 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Priced at $54,990 plus $2,480 freight, the sedan is just a few dollars below Ottawa’s EV-incentive threshold, mak- ing it eligible for a $5,000 rebate plus as much as $7,000 provincially (Quebec). First shipments of the i4 eDrive35 are scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
ACURA PRECISION EV CONCEPT
The Acura Precision EV Concept
The luxury division of Honda is co-opting the name of a short-lived Ontario-built model as it prepares to launch its first EV in 2024. Acura announced a new incarna- tion of the ZDX in August during Monterey Car Week in California, premiering the Precision EV concept as the jumping off point. Acura has released few details, but the concept bears little resem- blance to the original ZDX, a cross- over hatchback that was built in Alliston, Ont., for model years 2010 to 2013. The ZDX will be built in partnership with General Motors.
