New cars 2021: what's coming and when?
Many new models will land in showrooms before the year is out. Here's your go-to guide for all of them
It's been a gloomy year and a bit, so many of you will want to treat yourselves to a new car to brighten things up. And you will certainly be spoiled for choice, no matter what you fancy.
2020 saw the introduction of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Toyota GR Yaris, and 2021 has already shaped up to be another year of big hitters.
With just nine years to go until the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is banned, all eyes are on the landmark EVs hitting dealerships in the next 12 months, but there are still plenty of hugely exciting combustion models on the horizon.
Here's your go-to rundown of every new car due over the rest of this year:
-July - August - September - October - November - December-
--
-July-
*Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA*
Alfa’s wildest and most powerful road car yet draws 533bhp from a tweaked version of the standard Quadrifoglio’s 2.9-litre V6 - boosting power by 30bhp. The car is up to 100kg lighter thanks to liberal use of carbonfibre throughout most of the body and in some key mechanical components. It’s more than twice the price of the standard Quadrifoglio, though, so it deserves to be good.
*Alpina B4*
Alpina will likely try to soften the visual impact of the controversial new BMW M4 a little with its take on the fast coupé formula. The B4, like its recently launched B3 sibling, will be the first to use the same basic engine as the M4. Power will be down to 456bhp, but torque rises to a chunky 516lb ft. A comfort-focus chassis tune is the order of the day.
*DS 4*
PSA’s upmarket brand is hoping to upset the sales dominance of cars such as the Mercedes A-Class with its all-new DS 4. Offering a more luxury-focused approach, it will give new PSA Group tech its debut, such as advanced level two driver assist tech, night vision and an augmented head-up display. Pitched somewhere between a hatchback and crossover, the model will arrive with a plug-in hybrid powertrain shared with the Peugeot 508, Citroën C5 Aircross and Vauxhall Grandland X. That means a 12.4kWh battery giving some 30 miles of zero-emissions range, although this drops the boot space from 430 to 390 litres to make room for those all-important cells.
*Mercedes-Benz CLS*
The pedant-bothering ‘four-door coupé’ is updated with minor design tweaks outside but a more significant interior makeover will bring its technology into line with the latest offered by the Stuttgart brand. The current car has just two engine choices, so expect more to be added and the possibility of a plug-in variant in due course.
*McLaren Artura*
TThe Artura represents a new era for McLaren’s ‘entry-level’ line – and not just because it has an actual name, unlike the 620R and its Sport Series predecessors. The Artura is the firm’s first series-production hybrid – or a High-Performance Hybrid, as the Woking firm would have it. The V6 engine and electric motor join forces to provide 671bhp, with 0-60mph taking just three seconds. Top speed? Capped at 205mph. Meanwhile, the car's 7.4kWh battery affords it an electric range of 19 miles, with combined fuel economy claimed to be in the region of 50mpg.
*Porsche 911 GTS*
The sports-suspended GTS returns to bridge the gap between the standard 911 and the forthcoming GT3-badged variant. The outgoing model had 444bhp, and its replacement gets a small power hike to 473bhp, as well as the choice of manual or PDK gearboxes, sports suspension as standard and beefed-up brakes. Customers can choose from coupé, cabrio and Targa bodystyles.
*Seat Tarraco PHEV*
Seat launched the standard Tarraco in 2018 and first detailed the plug-in hybrid version the following summer. So why is it only arriving in showrooms this year? You can blame Covid-related delays forcing it down the VW Group launch priority list. Anyway, once it finally arrives, the Tarraco PHEV will make use of a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine mated to a 113bhp electric motor and 13kW lithium ion battery for 242bhp - and an electric-only range of over 31 miles.
*Back to the top*
--
-August-
*BMW iX3*
The Chinese-built iX3 is essentially an electric version of the third-generation X3, so is largely familiar save for its blanked-off grille, aerodynamically optimised wheel designs and blue trim elements. It uses the same fifth-generation EV powertrain as the iX, but swaps the dual-motor set-up for a single unit on the rear axle producing 282bhp, and is powered by a 74kW battery giving up to 285 miles per charge. Premier Edition trim starts at £61,900, but cheaper variants are likely to follow.
*Dacia Duster*
Dacia's value SUV gains a Sandero-inspired front end and a larger, updated infotainment system with more efficient engines. Prices are expected to start from £12,000.
*Nissan Ariya*
The Ariya was effectively branded as a ‘Leaf SUV’ prior to its unveiling, but it turned out to be much more than that. The bold, high-riding fully electric model is unlike any Nissan we’ve seen yet, and promises both new standards of technology and “exciting” handling. Up to 389bhp and a 310-mile range? It certainly sounds promising.
*Renault Arkana*
The Arkana was revealed rather quietly at the 2018 Moscow motor show, with no official plans to bring it to Western Europe. Clearly, Renault’s new management thought the SUV coupé had greater potential, so it’s now decided to bring a hugely reworked version (using a different platform) into further European markets, including the UK. Sitting alongside the Kadjar and Captur, the Arkana offers a range of mild-hybrid turbo petrol engines and a full-hybrid E-Tech model.
*Seat Arona*
Such is the fast pace of the new car market these days that the relatively new Arona somehow seems in need of an update. Thankfully, it’s mid-life revamp time, so the Ford Puma rival gets an external nip and tuck, a revamped cabin and improvements to the car’s array of tech, but no big changes under the bonnet.
*Seat Ibiza*
It’s only natural that Seat has updated the strongly related Ibiza at the same time as the Arona. It’s still one of the best superminis on the market, we reckon, and its continuing popularity means it’s unlikely the Spanish firm will go back to the drawing board. The car will gain a new infotainment system along with some mild styling changes. LED headlights are now standard and customers can choose from three new alloy styles, while the ‘Ibiza’ name is now positioned centrally in a ‘handwritten’ typeface. Prices and specifications for the updated Ibiza will be confirmed before the model arrives in UK dealerships later this year.
*Back to the top*
--
-September-
*BMW i4*
Based on the Gran Coupé due later this year, the i4 runs an 80kWh battery under the floor powering a 523bhp electric motor that produces more oomph than the M4. It should see off 0-62mph in less than four seconds and hit a top speed of 124mph, which bodes well for the M-badged performance variant that's tipped to take BMW's performance brand into the electric era.
*BMW iX*
One of the most hotly discussed cars of 2020 was BMW’s somewhat belated answer to the Audi E-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC. The controversially styled iX has been touted by BMW as a “technology flagship” and, as such, represents a radical departure from the i3, which has led the brand’s electrification drive since 2013. It will feature BMW’s eighth-generation iDrive system, with a 12.3-in instrument display and 14.9-in infotainment screen housed in a single panel offering a resolution of 220ppi (pixels per inch).
The five-seat, four-wheel-drive SUV packs up to 500bhp, will cover 0-62mph in less than five seconds and is claimed to offer a range of more than 373 miles. While comparable in size to today’s X5, it’s said to feature an interior that feels as spacious as an X7's, courtesy of its flat floor, lack of centre console and predominantly touchscreen-based control panel. Specifications of any variants beyond the officially detailed range-topper have yet to be confirmed, but each axle can support between 121bhp and 402bhp, hinting at the potential for the line-up to expand at both ends, taking in a lower-powered entry-level iX and more potent performance-oriented versions.
*Vauxhall Grandland *
Luton’s SUV flagship follows its Mokka and Crossland stablemates in gaining the dramatic new ‘Vizor’ front end. It’s intended to inject a bit of visual flair into the model, as part of Vauxhall’s plan to be much bolder with its styling.
*Back to the top*
-October-
*Citroën e-Berlingo, Vauxhall Combo-e, Peugeot Rifter EV *
The PSA Group’s plan to spin EVs and combustion-engined models off the same platform is bearing fruit, and attention has now turned to fleet-focused van-based MPVs. The Citroën e-Berlingo, Vauxhall Combo-e and Peugeot Rifter EV models use a 50kWh battery mated to a 134bhp electric motor, promising decent performance and a respectable 200-mile range. They’ll also be built in Britain at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant.
*Cupra Formentor VZ5*
A limited-run Cupra Formentor VZ5 will come to the UK later in 2021, although the hot crossover will only be available in left-hand drive. Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo engine producing 385bhp and 354lb ft, the five-cylinder-engined VZ5 can hit 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds en route to a top speed of 155mph. Prices are yet to be revealed ahead of the car’s arrival in the third quarter of 2021, but only 7000 examples will be made.
*Ford Mustang Mach-1*
The Mustang Mach-E is a future-proof electric SUV. The Mustang Mach 1… isn’t. It’s a Mustang that isn’t at all concerned about the future, because it’s too busy putting a big grin on your face using its utterly old-school charms. The limited-run Mach 1 will be the fastest Mustang yet sold in Europe, pairing classic retro styling with a 454bhp 5.0-litre V8. The Mach 1 costs £55,185 with a manual gearbox, although a 10-speed automatic version is available for £2000 more.
*Hyundai Bayon*
The new entry-point to Hyundai’s SUV range will sit below the Kona to better compete with the Ford Puma and Toyota Yaris Cross at the affordable end of the price spectrum. Underpinnings and powertrains are expected to be shared with the i20 supermini, with styling (although not capability) influenced by off-roaders. Finalised figures are yet to be released, but 54-56mpg is anticipated along with 118-131g/km for mild-hybrid versions.
*Jeep Compass 4xe PHEV*
The petrol-electric Compass will share its powertrain with the plug-in Renegade, promising greater off-road capability as well as zero-emissions driving. A 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine powers the front wheels and twin electric motors the rears. CO2 emissions will be sub-50g/km and the electric range around 25 miles.
*Kia EV6*
The forthcoming Kia EV6 crossover hatchback will be based on the company’s new E-GMP platform - meaning a potential range of more than 310 miles and high-speed 800V charging, allowing an 80% charge in as little as 18 minutes from a 350kW rapid-charger. That sort of charging capacity is currently offered on only the Porsche Taycan, so it shows how seriously Kia is taking electric cars. 0-62mph is expected to take around 5.0sec, so it’ll be no slouch either.
*Lamborghini Ultimae*
We’ll say goodbye to the Lamborghini Aventator later this year with the LP 780-4 Ultimae edition. It’ll be the firm’s final naturally aspirated V12 production car before the firm moves to hybrid powertrains, which will serve as a bridge to pure-electric Lamborghini models in the future.The 6.5-litre unit produces 10bhp more in the LP 780-4 Ultimae than in the previous range-topping Aventador, the SVJ, sending 769bhp (780PS, hence the name) to both axles, This final pure-combustion V12 model is also Lamborghini's most powerful, and the Ultimae is described as “a celebration of the iconic V12 super-sports car and combustion engine in a final production model.”
*Mercedes-AMG GT73e*
A combined output of more than 800bhp from its electrified, twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 will make the GT73 the most powerful four-door GT car yet made. Its exterior and interior will not differ wildly from the GT63 currently on sale, but expect some hybrid-specific design cues to point to its 30-mile-plus electric range. THe GT73e will be the first in a series of P3 plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG models, with the car set to be capable of 200mph and 0-62mph in under 3.0sec.
*Peugeot 308*
Peugeot has enjoyed a few years of strong success with its 3008 and 5008 SUVs, but the 308 still remains a core car vital to its fortunes in Europe and wider markets. Prices were revealed by the brand to start at £24,000, with a revamped interior and a new plug-in option.
A modernised design change means The 308 is now more closely related visually to newer Peugeot models including the 208, 508, 2008 and 3008. Its front end is characterised by the firm's trademark 'fang' LED daytime-running lights, slim headlights and a large grille housing the brand's new shield logo. Two plug-in hybrid options will be available from launch, both using a 12.4kWh lithium ion battery pack offering an electric-only range of up to 37 miles.
Both PHEV options are front-wheel-drive, but a top-rung PSE-badged four-wheel-drive hybrid hot hatch is expected to follow with around 300bhp and substantially improved performance.
*Porsche Macan*
Porsche’s entry-level SUV will recieve performance, technological and interior upgrades later this year. All specifications are now more powerful than the previous model, though the Turbo has been discontinued. The entry-level Macan retains its 2.0-litre turbo four but gains a boost from 241bhp to 261bhp, while the Macan S has swapped its 3.0-litre V6 for a 2.9-litre V6 that pushes out 26bhp more, at 375bhp. Both also receive slight torque uplifts and therefore reductions in their 0-62mph sprint times.
*Back to the top*
--
-November-
*Alfa Romeo Giulia *
Comprehensive mid-life update will bring the Giulia into line with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.
*Audi RS3*
The Mercedes-AMG A45 won’t be lonely at the top of the four-wheel-drive mega-hatch tree for much longer. Audi’s storming RS3 returns for its third generation towards the end of the year, and fans will be delighted to hear it keeps the warbling 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged motor that graces the RS Q3. Power is boosted to 394bhp, with a 0-62mph time of just 3.8secs. It retains a typically aggressive style, with hatchback and saloon variants. Both models gain a bespoke front end with an aggressive front grille, flared wheel arches and the car also gains an extended axle track. The inside has seen a makeover too, with a carbon fibre instrument panel, optional coloured stitching partnered with a 12.3in digital display as standard.
*Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid*
Crewe's second plug-in hybrid will arrive later this year packing an electrified V6 which offers V8-style pace, combining a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6 with a 134bhp electric motor for a total of 536bhp – 95bhp more than its Bentayga Hybrid sibling. Joining non-electrified V8 and W12 models in the Flying Spur range, the new plug-in hybrid uses a 14.1kWh battery to offer a projected EV range of more than 25 miles. With a 0-60mph time of 4.1sec and a top speed of 177mph, it closely matches the performance of the standard V8 saloon.
*BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé *
With the controversial grille still in place but this time with an additional pair of rear doors to boost practicality, the 4 Series Gran Coupé will be launched at the tail end of 2021. Excitingly, the Gran Coupé will be also available as the full-fat M4 for the first time. The popularity of the Gran Coupé in the US and China has driven this decision: 50% of 4 Series global sales are the four-door. So thanks to those two superpowers, it’s good news for the Brits as well.
The four-door coupé will join the existing Coupé and Convertible in the 4 Series lineup and is based on the four-door electric i4, which it will be built alongside. Prices will start from £40,465 for the entry level 420i, with the M440i XDrive priced from £54,670.
*Chevrolet Corvette C8 *
It’s a Corvette but not as we know it. For starters, the ’Vette has undergone its most dramatic evolution in 66 years and is now mid-engined. Secondly, it’s officially heading to the UK as a right-hooker. Don’t panic, though: the 6.2-litre V8 remains, delivering 0-62mph in under three seconds. UK cars will start at £81,700 and get manually adjustable suspension, electronic limited-slip differential and performance exhaust as standard. The 911 has a new rival.
*Genesis G70 Shooting Brake*
The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake, the estate model of the saloon G70, will hit UK roads soon after the brand’s official UK launch. It will be the firm’s first model developed specifically for the European market, offered with a choice of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel engine, with a potential V6 offering currently under discussion. Pricing information has yet to be revealed.
*Honda HR-V*
The third-generation Honda HR-V will be a radical departure, stylistically and mechanically, from the second-gen car, which went off-sale at the end of 2020. Now badged HR-V e:HEV, it will be available exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, derived from the petrol-electric set-up available in the larger CR-V and Jazz supermini. It retains its raised ride height, but adopts a coupé-style sloping roofline and a new-look front end to match the next-gen Civic hatchback.
A 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine is mated to a pair of electric motors for a combined 129bhp and 187lb ft - slightly more than the Jazz, likely because of the HR-V's increased size. Honda has yet to confirm performance or efficiency figures, but based on the Jazz's WLTP performance, a combined MPG rating in the high-50s is likely, with CO2 emissions around the 100g/km mark. Expect a 0-62mph time of around 10.0secs and a top speed just north of 100mph.
*Lexus NX*
Lexus has ushered in the second-generation version of its NX crossover, which has gained a 302bhp plug-in hybrid option along with a bold new cabin design and evolved exterior styling. The latest iteration of Lexus’s best-selling model in Europe arrives shortly after the brand’s announcement that it will ramp up its electrification efforts with 10 new hybrid, PHEV and pure-electric models by 2025.
The NX 450h+ uses the same petrol-electric set-up as the closely related Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Across SUVs. It pairs a 182bhp 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a 180bhp electric motor on the front axle and a 54bhp motor at the rear for permanent four-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of just over 6.0sec.
*Maserati Levante hybrid*
Maserati is updating its SUV late this year, dropping a hybrid version into it in a bid to help it keep pace with rivals like the Porsche Cayenne and Jaguar F-Pace ahead of an all-new car arriving in 2023.
*Mercedes-Benz EQB*
Sibling to the EQA, the EQB will in turn be more GLB than B-Class. Promising similarly optimised aero tweaks as the EQC, the EQB features a 66kWh battery and Mercedes says its capable of a 260 mile range. Final performance figures have not yet been made public, but officials have told Autocar the initial four-wheel-drive EQB model will have a 0-62mph time of around 6.0sec. It forms one part of a large electrification push from Mercedes, which has plans for 10 EQ models in total.
*Mercedes-Benz EQS *
The expansion of the Mercedes range will swell the total number of models beyond 50, boosted further by the likes of the new EQS, its range-topping electric car. Think of the S-Class as an EV and you’re well on the way to working out the crux of EQS.
It tops the firm’s EV family and is capable of an impressive 435 mile range with performance to rival the Porsche Taycan, with luxury, safety and comfort at the forefront of the car’s appeal. Prices are roughly in line with the standard S-Class, starting at around £90,000, and the rear-wheel-drive EQS 450 produces 329bhp and 338lb ft of torque. It’s topped by the EQS 580, which is capable of 516bhp and 631lb ft, though this model won't make it to the UK.
But the growth of Mercedes’ range has now seemingly peaked. Last March, Mercedes R&D chief Markus Schäfer told us that after the roll-out of its range of dedicated electric vehicles, “we are definitely reviewing our current line-up. The idea is to streamline - taking car variants out, but also platforms, powertrains and components.”
*Porsche 911 Carrera T *
As with the last 911 T, Porsche will be hoping it can sprinkle a little fairy dust across its 911 range by linking this car to other stripped-back 911s. This 'back-to-basics' 911 gets lightweight window glass and door pull straps (very much like the hallowed GT cars), alongside lower suspension and optional rear-wheel steering.
*Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge*
Just like the other models in the range, the latest Rolls saloon is in line for a menacing Black Badge edition, featuring plenty of… you’ve guessed it… black detailing to dull down any chromework on the car. A lack of brightwork should help it to stand out from other Ghosts, while additional power will also give the car a point of differentiation from its more (comparatively) run-of-the-mill siblings.
*Skoda Kodiaq*
The new Kodiaq was confirmed in May with a price starting from £27,650 for the updated SUV, which features new technology and a style makeover. The SE L trim is offered from £31,895 with 19-inch Triglav alloy wheels, full front and rear LED matrix headlights with cornering function, chrome roof rails and floor mats. The Sportline will be offered for £35,805, gaining a rear-view parking camera, and those who opt for the L&K trim, from £41,720, will receive Skoda’s virtual cockpit.
The refresh includes the return of the vRS performance model to the line-up with petrol power and 20in anthracite alloy wheels with aero-optimised covers. It follows the removal of the outgoing 237bhp twin-turbo diesel version late last year due to tightening emissions rules. Prices for the vRS are yet to be confirmed.
*Tesla Model S Plaid*
Tesla has given the Model S what it really needed: more power. The addition of a third motor creates this Plaid version. It gets 1006bhp, a 200mph top speed, and sub-2.0sec 0-60mph time. If you don’t black out from that sort of acceleration, the car will also manage a claimed 520 miles between charges, which would make it the longest-range electric car on sale by quite some margin. £130,980 is the going rate for the top-spec Plaid+, so the warp factor doesn’t come cheap.
*Toyota GR86*
The successor to the GT86, the GR86 was shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year - and will be sold in the UK, unlike its Subaru BRZ cousin. The GR86 quickly became an Autocar affordable driver's car favourite, but the new model will court some controversy by donning turbocharging, with a new 2.4-litre flat-four engine putting out 252bhp.
*Back to the top*
--
-December-
*Alfa Romeo Stelvio*
Similar revisions to the Giulia's will give fresh life to Alfa’s SUV, likely bringing mild-hybrid tech and infotainment upgrades.
*Bentley Blower *
Bentley is embracing a bold, all-electric future - but the Crewe firm is still in touch with its past. Witness the ‘new’ Blower Continuation, a piece-by-piece recreation of the machines raced pre-war by the likes of Tim Birkin. To make the 12 new models – all now sold at £1.5 million-plus – Bentley’s Mulliner division took apart one of the four surviving Blowers to study, scan and recreate every part. It’s an audacious, inspiring project: British engineering at its finest.
*Citroen C5X*
The French firm’s upcoming luxury range-topper combines SUV, estate and saloon styles and will offer petrol or PHEV power from launch. Many of the C5X’s styling cues are inspired by the CXperience concept from 2016, and Citroen claims it will set a new benchmark for comfort, with a ride that aims to “overcome all obstacles, potholes, kerbs, speed bumps and other road connection.”
*Hyundai Ioniq 6 *
Expected to make its debut towards the end of the year, the Ioniq 6 will become the flagship model for Hyundai’s all-new Ioniq electric sub-brand. The EV saloon will be heavily based on the swooping Prophecy concept first seen in March 2020, and will ride on the firm’s new Electric Global Modular Platform, which has been designed around a long wheelbase and flat floor for maximum interior space. The cabin will be modelled on a “smart living room”, with various possible seating configurations.
E-GMP-based cars will be rear-wheel drive as standard, with an optional second motor on the front axle for adaptable four-wheel drive. A high-performance Ioniq 6 will likely use dual motors to deliver a top speed of around 162mph, and a 0-62mph sprint time of less than 3.5sec. Range will vary between models, with the most capable variants expected to manage more than 310 miles between charges. High-speed 800V charging capability at up to 350kW will be standard, and models will be backwards-compatible with existing 400V charging stations.
The Ioniq range will sit separately from existing electric Hyundai models such as the Kona Electric. The compact crossover will take its design cues from the radical 45 Concept seen at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, with a wedge-like shape, low bonnet line and heavily sloping rear being a dramatic departure from the current Hyundai range. A larger Ioniq 7 SUV is expected to follow from 2024. Each Ioniq model will have a distinctive and different design, although all will feature the innovative ‘pixel’ headlights seen on the 45 and Prophecy concepts.
*Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV*
America’s answer to the Defender gains a 370bhp plug-in hybrid option, with power coming from a 2.0-litre, turbo four and a 400V, 17kWh battery. The 470lb ft of torque is a handy 59% increase over the most powerful existing Jeep and the set-up is claimed to improve on- and off-road capability. The latter is crucial for Jeep, because heritage is so important to the brand.
*Kia Sportage*
It’s Kia’s best-selling model here in the UK, but that doesn’t mean the brand will be playing it safe for the fifth-generation car. The Sportage has been given a radical design overhaul with cues from the EV6. The changes are vast inside the car too, with a curved digital display, touchscreen infotainment and soft-touch haptic switches on a glossy centre console. The Sportage will also gain several electrified powertrains and a diesel option looks likely, but no indication of a plug-in model has been revealed.
*Range Rover*
So much is up in the air at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) at the moment around future product plans. Under new CEO Thierry Bolloreé, a leaner showroom of JLR models is set to emerge, and the rapid expansion of all different shapes and sizes of SUVs in particular will end as the company instead focuses on its core - and highly profitable - models.
One of those will be the Range Rover, which will retain its role as the flagship of the Land Rover range. An all-new model arrives this year as the first model built on JLR’s new MLA architecture, which will ultimately underpin anything bigger than a Range Rover Evoque.
A huge investment, MLA can house petrol, diesel, hybrid and full-electric variants, all of which will emerge on the fifth-gen Range Rover’s watch. Up first will be petrol and diesels in both mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid forms. An all-electric version isn’t due for some time yet, although it is understood to be a priority for Bolloré ahead of any stand-alone electric Range Rover that had previously been planned.
Don’t expect any great departure in the styling, more a refined look honed under design boss Gerry McGovern before his recent promotion to a group design role. An ever-more luxurious interior is a given, too, as are more potent and plusher versions from JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations using a BMW-sourced V8.
*Maserati MC20*
The Maserati MC20 earned a UK public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and is expected to hit UK roads towards the end of 2021. Orders are already open for the £187,230 supercar, which will Initially be sold with a mid-mounted 621bhp V6. The new halo model will also offer electric power in the future. It’s also Maserati’s first supercar since the limited-run MC12 which launched back in 2004, and it’s expected to mark Maserati’s ‘new era’ by restoring its reputation for producing high-end supercars, boosting the prestige of its saloons and SUVs.
*Mercedes-AMG S63e*
Affalterbach’s take on the S-Class will pack a hybridised twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 good for around 700bhp - and that’s in standard form: a new S73e variant will take output over 800bhp. The lower-powered version mates a 134bhp electric motor to the V8, while the S73e gains a more powerful 201bhp electric boost. Anyone waiting for the S65 will be disappointed because Mercedes has announced that the 2019 S65 Final Edition was just that.
*Mercedes-Benz SL*
The SL is back - but not as you know it. It will switch to being more of a sports car, deriving its underpinnings from the GT and sharing that car’s aluminium-intensive platform, known as the Modular Sports Architecture (MSA), which has been developed by AMG. This brings a useful economy of scale to these top-end models. Another significant change is around the roof, which will switch back to fabric instead of the current metal top.
*MG electric hatch*
The as yet unnamed supermini could be one of the most affordable EVs to hit the market in the coming years.
*MG E-Motion*
MG fans have been crying out for a revival of the brand’s sports cars from its 1960s heyday and 2021 could be the year to provide it in the form of a two-door, four-seat flagship. The as yet unnamed model is based around the MG E-Motion concept that was shown at the Shanghai motor show in 2017, but recently leaked patent drawings show the styling has moved on considerably since then. Technical details are scarce, but we do know that it uses parent company SAIC’s twin-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain. A sub-4.0sec 0-62mph time is likely.
*Nissan X-Trail*
The new version of Nissan’s large SUV takes styling cues from the latest Juke and Qashqai, and gains a much-improved interior featuring a large touchscreen set-up. Nissan has added electrified engine options to its Skoda Kodiaq rival, as it seeks to sell one million electrified vehicles a year by 2022.
Pricing is yet to be revealed, but the new X-Trail is expected to command a slight premium over the circa £23,000 price of the out-going version. Precise body dimensions have also not been revealed yet, but it’s thought many of the changes will be aero-focused design cues.
*Porsche Taycan GTS*
Porsche’s first EV is all set to gain greater driver appeal with a performance-biased GTS variant. Likely to arrive as a rear-wheel-drive version (a standard, non-GTS version of which is already on sale in China and has recently set a world drift record), the Taycan GTS will follow the tried and tested formula of previous models by gaining additional standard equipment and engineering tweaks to deliver a more focused driving experience.
*Vauxhall Astra *
The new, eighth-generation Astra has been radically restyled, now underpinned by the same EMP2 architecture as its Peugeot 308 sibling, and with the option of plug-in power. It will become the penultimate Vauxhall model to make the move across to a Stellantis platform features the firm’s new now-customary vizor front-end, as seen on the new Mokka and Grandland SUVs.
*Volkswagen ID 4 GTX*
This is the big one: can VW build an electric GTI? Because that is essentially what this car is aiming to be. The GTX badge will sit alongside the GTI tag and features a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive set-up producing a combined 302bhp and 339lb ft. It will do 0-62mph in 6.2sec and have a range of 286 miles. If the ID 4 GTX proves electric cars can be fast and engaging, VW could just have a winner on its hands.
*Volvo C40 Recharge*
The Volvo C40 is the Swedish company’s second fully electric vehicle, and is based on its first; the XC40 Recharge P8 SUV. The C40 is just as long and wide as the XC40, but the sloping, coupe roofline reduces the height of the car (and consequently the rear headroom). A 78kWh will return a range of around 260 miles, and the 201bhp electric motors on each axle bring a 0-62mph figure of 4.9sec. Production is due to begin in the autumn, with first deliveries commencing before the year is out.
*Cars arriving in 2022*
*Alfa Romeo Tonale*
While its German rivals have been flooding the market with SUVs in recent years, Alfa Romeo only has one. That changes this year with the Tonale, which will rival the likes of the BMW X1. It might be smaller than the existing Stelvio, but expectations for the Tonale are bigger: it’s hoped to quickly become the brand’s biggest-selling model. If it can mix Italian style with new tech – including a PHEV version – it should stand out against its rivals.
*Alpina B4*
Alpina will likely try to soften the visual impact of the controversial new BMW M4 a little with its take on the fast coupé formula. The B4, like its recently launched B3 sibling, will be the first to use the same basic engine as the M4. Power will be down to 456bhp, but torque rises to a chunky 516lb ft. A comfort-focus chassis tune is the order of the day.
*BMW 2 Series*
The 2 Series Coupe retains a rear-wheel drive set-up as standard and a cab-rear silhouette. The new two-door model is pitched at “customers at the sporty end of the driving system seeking an emotionally rich driving experience,” and it will be offered in three guises: the petrol 220i, with a 2.0-litre turbo four sending 181bhp and 221lb ft to the rear axle; the 220d, with a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre diesel four making 188bhp and 295lb ft; and the M240i xDrive, which has a 3.0-litre petrol straight six and four-wheel drive that’s good for 369bhp and 369lb ft.
*Ferrari 296 GTB*
The 296 GTB will feature Ferrari’s first V6 engine since 1974. It will take the form of a hybrid, with an electric motor attached to all-new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre unit producing 654bhp, which is equivalent to 218bhp per litre - claimed to be a record for a production car. Combined torque output, meanwhile, is put at 546lb ft, contributing to a 0-62mph of just 2.9sec on its way to a top speed of more than 205mph. Like the SF90 Stradale, the 296 GTB can be driven on electric power alone (for up to 16 miles and at speeds of up to 84mph), courtesy of its underfloor 7.45kWh battery.
*Honda Civic*
A new-look Civic will make its way to the UK in 2022, with hybrid-only power in-line with the upcoming HR-V and the new Jazz. The firm’s e:HEV system pairs a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine with a pair of electric motors, producing 108bhp in the Jazz and 129bhp in the HR-V. In hybrid mode, the petrol engine is used to generate power for the electric motor, reconnecting to the drive wheels via a single-speed gearbox under higher loads.
The hot Civic Type R will retain a pure-combustion set-up, likely to be based around an evolved version of the current car's 'K20C1' 2.0-litre turbo four, which produces 316bhp - making it one of the most powerful front-drive cars on sale today.
*Hyundai Kona N *
The Kona N has its sights fixed on the T-Roc R as a performance SUV with aggressive styling, and joins Hyundai’s performance line-up as the fifth model to wear the N badge. Prices start from £35,395, and this variant offers a selection of motorsport-inspired changes geared towards enhancing performance and an improved driving experience. This is evident from it’s powertrain - a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 276bhp and 289lb ft (figures roughly comparable to those of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport).
*Ineos Grenadier*
Ineos is gearing up towards launching the Grenadier at the tail end of 2021. Designed to fill the gap left by the old Land Rover Defender, the Grenadier is the pet project of chemical billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and blends modern running gear (BMW petrol and diesel engines, along with a ZF eight-speed auto) with rugged 4x4 looks.
*Lotus Emira*
The Emira is Lotus’ first new production car for more than a decade and is set to challenge the Porsche 718 Cayman with a price point of less than £60,000. It’ll go on sale next spring, returning to a mid-engined, two-seater set-up and the same Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre V6 from the outgoing Exige and Evora, before AMG 2.0-litre turbo power is implemented in the summer.
*Porsche Macan EV*
The Macan EV is still in its test phase, but already a raft of design tweaks are noticeable ahead of its 2022 release date. The EV will feature slimmed-down headlights alongside the lack of any physical grille, bar a lower air intake. The roofline also appears to be lower and more coupé-like than that of today’s Macan, while the rear end appears to have been subtly reconfigured. Speaking to Autocar at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, Porsche confirmed that the existing petrol-engined Macan will remain on sale alongside the new Macan during a transitional phase.
*Skoda Fabia*
Skoda has brought the launch of its new Fabia forward by a year, and rightly so given the current car’s platform was first used in 2008. This time it’ll share the latest VW Group MQB A0 underpinnings with the latest Polo, with an overhauled interior with more space and technology. Design cues have been taken from the Skoda Scala, and the firm is aiming to make it the most spacious car in the supermini segment. The hatchback will launch in the UK early next year, priced from around £13,500, plus Skoda has confirmed that the unique estate version will return as well, most likely in 2023. There won’t be any electrified versions at first, to keep costs down.
*Volvo Concept Recharge*
The Concept Recharge is a preview to Volvo’s future flagship SUV, set to replace the XC90 as an electric-only model built on a new platform. The firm is set to go electric only from 2030.
“It will be the new Volvo flagship SUV but it’s really the first of its kind and will be followed by a lot of cars based on the same architecture," said Volvo boss Hakan Samuelsson. "We will mark that by deviating from the normal way of giving our cars names with XC for an SUV and so on. To mark that this next generation kind of car will also have a name, like a child."
*Back to the top*
*READ MORE*
*Autocar's motoring predictions for 2021*
*The best automotive activities to do in 2021*
