Lincoln, SEAT and Dacia: Can these car brands succeed in Down Under?
When the news came that the Lincoln Navigator, a large American luxury SUV, would soon be available in Australia, we wondered… what other foreign badges might we see on local roads?
In the case of the Lincoln, the 336kW/691Nm SUV was imported and converted to right-hand drive by International Motor Cars, the same gang that recycles the Cadillac Escalade and Dodge Challenger for Australia.
This practice is an expensive undertaking: the Lincoln Navigator Black Label is expected to cost between $274,900 plus travel expenses. By comparison, the same left-hand drive model costs $97,135 (AU$153,961) in the States.
Despite the high price tag, the business case may well be made, as a certain group of buyers seem willing to pay more for the exclusivity that only such a vehicle can provide.
Can other car brands succeed in Australia's competitive market? These are the ones we would like to see in Down Under.
Acura
The Acura RDX will feel right at home on Australian roads.
Acura was founded in the United States in 1986 and currently offers a range of sedans and SUVs, as well as the revived NSX sports car. The TLX sedan is available with a 216kW V6 engine, torque vectoring all-wheel drive, Variable Valve Timing (i-VTEC) and a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The Acura RDX crossover SUV could also be a good fit for Australia thanks to its premium looks and high-tech interior.
While the seven-seat Honda MDX was discontinued in Australia in 2007, the nameplate remained with Acura. The Acura MDX, introduced as a premium offering with three rows of seats, competes with the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Dacia
Dacia has announced its new electric vehicle with the Spring Electric concept.
Renault Dacia's budget subsidiary could also have a place in Australia as the Romanian automaker plans to launch "the most affordable all-electric car in Europe" in 2021.
Renault has also expressed interest in importing a double-cab Oroch pickup truck based on the Dacia Duster.
Since its release in 2010, the Duster has become a hit overseas, sold in over 100 countries with a variety of engine and transmission configurations. The Duster has even found a home in the Vatican as the latest papal vehicle.
With its quirky looks and proven reliability, the Duster could be positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Nissan Qashqai and Mitsubishi ASX, and a pickup truck version would no doubt spark interest in local car dealerships.
SEATS
The SEAT Ateca is a small to medium sized SUV based on the VW Tiguan and Skoda Karoq models.
SEAT, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, sold cars in Australia from 1995 to 1999, albeit with limited success. It is unlikely that SEAT will return to local shores, as VW's similar sub-brand Skoda is seen as a more viable subsidiary.
Earlier this year, SEAT introduced its fourth-generation Leon subcompact car, which is based on the same platform as the upcoming Volkswagen Golf 8 and comes in both hatchback and station wagon body styles.
The Leon has a sleek exterior and minimalist interior, and is also available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Its stylish SUVs like the Tarraco and Ateca have also been popular in the past.
Hunts
The Chinese-made Hongqi L5 limousine is equipped with a 284-liter V4.0 twin-turbo engine with an output of 8 kW.
You'll be sorry if you don't know much about this brand, but Hongqi is actually the oldest passenger car manufacturer in China.
Buying Chinese cars in Australia has been slow, but with rapid technological advancement in recent years, brands such as Haval, MG and LDV have found success on Australian roads.
While the said automakers focus on the budget side of the market, Hongqi produces high-end luxury vehicles. As it turns out, the Hongqi L5 luxury sedan is said to be the most expensive Chinese-made car ever made.
The long and low L5 is often used to transport high-ranking government officials and is powered by either a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine or a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine.
Other models in the Hongqi lineup are based on well-known nameplates such as the Mazda6-based H5 sedan and the Audi Q5-based HS7 midsize SUV.
Bugatti
The wild Bugatti Chiron is powered by an 8.0-liter four-cylinder W16 engine with 1119 kW and 1600 Nm.
French hypercar manufacturer Bugatti may not have a local sales agent, but in this world, money matters.
Bugatti's latest model, the Chiron, starts at a base price of around $3,800,000 (AU$5,900,000), a figure that gets significantly higher when import duties, taxes and shipping costs are added.
The Chiron does not comply with Australian design regulations, although it is possible that a limited number of units could be used as special interest vehicles.
Powered by an 8.0-liter W16 four-turbo engine developing 1119kW and 1600Nm, the Chiron could easily become one of the fastest production cars in the world, if not the fastest.
Tata
The 2020 Tata Altroz is the first Indian-made hatchback to achieve a five-star NCAP safety rating.
With a number of once-popular compact cars such as the Honda Jazz and Hyundai Accent phased out in Australia, and others becoming more upscale, there could be an opportunity for a new type of budget city car.
India's Tata Motor Cars makes a range of sleek and efficient right-hand drive cars, but few meet Australia's stricter safety standards.
But there is hope, as the Tata Altroz hatchback managed to achieve a five-star Global NCAP safety rating ahead of its launch this year.
Tata has plans for at least two new electrified models, as well as a new seven-seater Gravitas SUV to compete against the Mahindra XUV500.
