Modern Luxury reveals our picks for some of the year’s hottest new rides.
Aston Martin’s bespoke program Q lets buyers customize everything on their DBX707, down to the color of the front spoiler.
Some seriously thrilling new automobiles are slated to hit the road in 2023. From Aston Martin’s sensational new high-performance SUV to Porsche’s latest track star, these are our picks for some of the year’s best new vehicles.
The car’s signature crystal engine start/stop button sits prominently atop the center console, flanked by glass gear selectors for a truly satisfying beginning and end to each journey.
The Skinny:
Aston Martin’s new DBX707 is bar none the world’s most powerful luxury SUV—and also the most fun to drive.
Wow Factor:
Fast, agile and powerful, the Aston Martin DBX707 packs no fewer than 697 horsepower (or 707PS as the Europeans count it). The DBX707 eviscerates the sprint from zero to 60 mph, completing it in just 3.1 seconds. The DBX707 also features an active exhaust that opens the valves of the quad sport exhaust system at the press of a button, revealing a deep, throaty note on demand. Lastly, Q by Aston Martin offers the ultimate in bespoke personalization, allowing owners to customize everything from the color of the seat belts to the drive mode selector trim.
THE NUMBERS:
• A 27% larger grille versus the standard DBX allows the DBX707 to fully breathe.
• 193 mph top speed
• 23-inch wheels pop and make it easy to admire the standard carbon ceramic disc brakes
The Skinny:
Now in its third generation, the handcrafted Bentley Continental GT is the ultimate luxury coupe, with its spacious interior, effortless power and grand exterior design.
Wow Factors:
A three-sided revolving center display swivels to showcase either a 12.3-inch touch screen, a beautiful wood veneer or three analog dials; Bentley’s 48-volt Dynamic Ride System delivers an incredibly smooth ride no matter the road surface, while also providing the driver with the ability to select their preferred driving characteristics; and an available 12-cylinder engine cranks out 650 horsepower and catapults the 5,370-pound coupe from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
The Continental GT’s handcrafted interior features some 1.7 miles of thread, with the steering wheel alone taking some three and a half hours to stitch.
THE NUMBERS:
• 208 mph top speed of the Continental GT W12
• 2,200-watt Naim for Bentley audio system, a must-have for any audiophile
• 55 individually controlled LEDs comprising the bejeweled headlights, which automatically adjust brightness for oncoming vehicles
The Grand Wagoneer’s best-in-class towing capacity makes hauling a camper, boat or horse trailer feel effortless.
The Skinny:
Jeep has revived the Wagoneer nameplate with the introduction of its ultraluxe seven-passenger luxury SUV, the Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L.
Wow Factors:
A new-for-2023 twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine makes 510 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque, more powerful and fuel-efficient than the V-8 engine it replaces. American luxury at its finest, the Grand Wagoneer L models feature best-in-class second-row legroom and 44.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row; and Quadra-Lift air suspension offers five height settings for up to 10 inches of ground clearance, ideal for trips to the great outdoors.
THE NUMBERS:
• 75 inches of total screen display area split between 45 inches of front screen and 30-inch screen in the rear
• 10,000-pound towing capacity equals a best-in-class towing machine.
• 1,375-watt McIntosh premium audio system with 23 speakers for a totally immersive listening experience
The Skinny:
Porsche’s new 911 GT3 RS is quite literally a street-legal race car. In addition to its radical aerodynamic achievements and high-revving 518-horsepower engine, the GT3 RS comes racetrack-ready with a no-cost built-in roll cage, a handheld fire extinguisher and six-point seat belts for the driver.
The GT3 RS is right at home on the racetrack but also perfectly suitable for a night on the town.
Wow Factor:
The auto boasts incredible aerodynamic management thanks to Porsche’s Active Aerodynamics system, the highlight of which is a wild rear spoiler that helps the GT3 RS achieve an astonishing 1,895 pounds of downforce at 177 mph. With its 4.0-liter flat-six engine that wails all the way to its staggering 9,000-rpm redline, the 911 GT3 RS is a soul-stirring experience. And the Porsche Track Precision App allows GT3 RS drivers the ability to analyze their performance data on over 300 international circuits.
THE NUMBERS:
• 6:49.328, the number of minutes it takes for the GT3 RS to complete one lap around the famed Nürburgring in Germany. This makes it 13 seconds faster than the famed 918 Spyder.
• At just 3,197 pounds, the 911 GT3 RS is one lightweight track star.
• 3 seconds from zero to 60 mph
The Skinny:
Cadillac’s newest SUV is the fully electric Lyriq, and it’s going to be a hit. This all-electric beauty seats five and offers a range of up to 312 miles from its 102-kWh battery.
The Cadillac Lyriq’s crisp, modern lines make it a serious aesthetic standout for an EV.
Wow Factor:
DC Fast Charge gives 76 miles of range in just 10 minutes; an impressive 33-inch curving display offers 9K resolution and puts everything right at your fingertips; and Cadillac pays attention to the little details inside the Lyriq, like the backlit and knurled central knob that looks like a piece of fine crystal, and the finely stitched leather floating and cantilevered armrest.
THE NUMBERS:
• 312-mile range on a full charge
• 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system for a fully immersive audio experience
• Two years of free, unlimited charging at any EVgo public charging station included with purchase
It’s hard to find anything that’s more exclusive, versatile and fun to drive than Jaguar’s new F-PACE SVR Edition 1988.
The Skinny:
Jaguar’s new F-PACE SVR Edition 1988 is a superexclusive high-performance midsize SUV with the soul of Jaguar’s XJR-9 race car imbued in its glamorous design inside and out.
Wow Factors:
The Midnight Amethyst gloss appears black until its amethyst undertones are revealed under bright sunlight; Champagne Gold forged 22-inch alloy wheels are stunning; and Edition 1988 logos throughout reveal this F-PACE’s racing heritage.
THE NUMBERS:
• 394 vehicles in this limited-edition series
• 550 horsepower from the F-PACE’s 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 makes for a top speed of 178 mph.
• 3.8 seconds to sprint from zero to 60 mph
Drop the top and head for the open road in Mercedes’ redesigned SL.
The Skinny:
For 2023, the iconic Mercedes-Benz SL carries on the glamorous tradition of open-top, wind-in-your-hair cruising that debuted with the original 1957 300 SL roadster.
Wow Factor:
A true all-weather convertible, the new Mercedes SL features all-wheel drive, a first in the SL’s 70-year history. The vehicle also offers uncanny agility thanks to its rear-axle steering, which can turn the rear wheels up to 2.5 degrees in one direction. Lastly, the range-topping SL 63 makes 577 horsepower and 590 foot-pounds of torque, launching it from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds.
THE NUMBERS:
• 15 seconds to open or close the electronically operated soft top, possible at speeds up to 37 mph
• Five angular positions that the rear spoiler can take to either reduce drag or increase rear downforce
• 28 languages that Mercedes’ intelligent voice assistant, “Hey Mercedes,” understands
Photography by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRANDS
