Looking ahead to car year 2023: Kevin Hemmer
First a quick review, which car is your personal favorite of 2022? And why is that?
Then I’m going to secretly mention two anyway: the Defender P400e and the Mazda MX-5. Funny, now that I list them I actually only realize that they are really two extremes of each other: one is big and heavy and the other is small and nimble. The Defender is special to me because this was my first test car for AutoRAI.nl and then immediately a very fat plug-in hybrid with 400 hp. I’m not going to forget that one anytime soon. I also won’t soon forget the Mazda MX-5 that I got to test drive extensively abroad. With 132 whole horsepower at the rear wheels, it doesn’t seem like much, but the driving pleasure of the little roadster is unmatched. Thinking back on those cars, I once again regret having to turn them back in….
What was your absolute automotive highlight of 2022?
For me anyway, that’s the BMW M3 Touring. There is something desirable about the car. Although I find it hard to put my finger on exactly what that is because of. Is it the thick hips or the ability to take the Nürburgring with family plus dog? Maybe it’s a strong marketing ploy by BMW by making us wait so long for an M3 Touring… Either way, the M3 Touring makes me happy. I even have to admit, as an opponent of the modern BMW kidneys, that I think the “new” nose looks good on the Touring. Somehow BMW gets it that the fatter the car is, the more palatable the kidneys are. Still handsome.
Which car are you most looking forward to in 2023? And why?
For the car I am most looking forward to, I still stick with the Bavarian automaker. In fact, I choose the BMW XM. According to BMW, the XM is the spiritual successor to the M1. Well, whether I see it the same way let’s leave it at that. The XM is a product of BMW M itself, so completely designed from the ground up by BMW’s performance department. Opinions are divided on the looks, but the hybrid powertrain – good for some 750 hp in the strongest version – leaves no room for debate. So I choose the XM not so much for its looks, but mostly for its powertrain. It foreshadows what BMW and BMW M will offer in the near future in terms of electrification and performance. I’m curious!
Which electric car do you have high hopes for in 2023?
I have high hopes for the Audi A6 e-tron. I mean, you want to see this on the road, right? Besides the handsome design, things seem to be fine under the skin. In fact, the E-segmenter is on the PPE platform which Audi and Porsche are building together for their all-electric cars. The platform provides a good basis for excellent loading characteristics and ditto driving performance. And besides, can you imagine it: an electric RS6? I do!
Is there any particular car you’re looking forward to extra?
Poe! There are secretly a lot of them, mind you. I am very curious about the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N and whether Hyundai will follow through with the N Vision 74 on hydrogen. I also hope Lexus can get the Electrified Sport Concept a little more concrete in 2023. That car is really a picture to see and maybe with a manual transmission too! Is everything electric in the future then? Well no! Ferrari is also coming briefly with the Ferrari Purosangue, an SUV with atmospheric V12. That bodes well.
Your good intention for 2023 is….
Grow AutoRAI.com and create even more great things! Furthermore, I actually want to free up some more time to visit car events, such as the Essen Motor show, Techno Classica and Interclassics in Maastricht, for example. Maybe 2023 will be the year I go to Goodwood for the first time, who knows.
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