The new cars of 2024 worth waiting for

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:35:00 +0000
Automotive

From Abarth to Zenvo, welcome to our comprehensive guide to all the new metal arriving in 2024

So far, 2024 has been a great year for new car launches, with several exciting models revealed over the last nine months.

Hold on, though, because the anticipation doesn't stop here. From Abarth to Zenvo, we've listed all of the biggest cars arriving for the remainder of the year.

It's not just electric cars. There's a host of exotic arrivals on the way, including new Bentley Continental GT, plus a whole load of more accessible combustioned-engined cars.

It will also be a year of evolution for several brands, with Abarth launching a crossover and JLR launching its first battery-electric Range Rover.

So secure your seatbelts and read on for our guide to new cars coming in 2024.

*New cars coming in 2024*

*Abarth 600e*

Electric hot-hatch-crossover will be Abarth’s second hot EV. It looks set to adopt the Fiat 500e’s 152bhp motor and will almost definitely gain an array of lurid paint schemes and a stiffened chassis. We expect the 600e to come with a Scorpion Track driving mode, like its smaller sibling. It will likely be good for a 7.0sec 0-62mph time.

*Everything we know about the Abarth 600e*

*AC Cobra GT Roadster*

Classic Cobra package gets a radical reinvention thanks to a 654bhp V8 and carbonfibre body. The Cobra GT Roadster is made by AC, its first new model since it appointed Swiss financial backer David Conza as CEO in May 2022. It’s set to start from £285,000 and has a bespoke aluminium spaceframe chassis designed in Italy by Icona Design Group and Cecomp. It’s set to be built in the UK.

*Everything we know about the AC Cobra GT Roadster*

*Aiways U5*

Aiways may well be a brand you’ve not heard of. But the firm has come on leaps and bounds since its introduction in 2017, priding itself on its ‘clean sheet’ approach to car manufacturing. The U5 is a competent if uninspiring family SUV that also has been available elsewhere in Europe for a while.

*Read our Aiways U5 review*

*Alpine A290*

The spirit of Renaultsport has been revived for a rework of the upcoming Renault 5 with extra power, differential-simulating torque vectoring on the front axle, hydraulic bump stops and A110 brakes. Could it be the first truly great electric hot hatch?

*Everything we know about the Alpine A290*

*Alpine GTX-Over*

Renault performance brand taps into the mainstream with a sporting compact SUV based on the electric Mégane’s platform. Don’t expect a jacked-up A110 - it’ll be much more like a Lotus Eletre or Polestar 3. It will likely utilise a second motor on the rear axle, much like Nissan’s range-topping e-4orce Ariya, which is also on the Mégane platform.

*Everything we know about the Alpine GTX-Over*

*Audi A5*

The combustion A4 has been be renamed A5, with Audi re-designating internal-combustion-engined cars with odd numbers. The new A5’s styling is an evolution of the current model, with more angular headlights and a flatter front grille. It will continue to offer petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines.

*Everything we know about the new Audi A5*

*Audi A6 E-tron*

Whether in saloon or estate form, the A6 has long been at the heart of Audi’s range, so this first electric version is very significant.

The BMW i5 rival sits on a new EV platform co-developed by Audi and Porsche and will offer a range of 466 miles at launch.

*Everything we know about the Audi A6 E-tron*

*Bentley Continental*

Crewe’s fabled W12 is on the way out, and it’s set to be replaced by a PHEV powertrain. But don’t fret too much: it won’t just be about boosting economy. Expect it to take learnings from the fierce V8 system in Porsche’s Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid – and expect the Conti to retain plenty of British luxury.

*Read our Bentley Continental prototype review*

*Bugatti Bolide*

Think the 300mph, 1580bhp quad-turbocharged W16-engined Chiron is a bit tame? This one’s for you, then. The Bolide is what happens when Bugatti makes a track car: a £3.4 million maniac that weighs 1450kg while packing a whopping 1825bhp.

*Everything we know about the Bugatti Bolide*

*BMW 1 Series*

BMW's entry-level car gets some significant design changes for 2024, with a lowered, more angular stance and a new face.

BMW has also opted to ditch diesel engines and manual gearboxes for this new generation of the hatchback, which is a move that some will not be too pleased with.

*BMW M5 Touring*

The first estate-bodied uber-5 Series since 2010 produces a whopping 717bhp from a V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain, which is also capable of producing up to 738lb ft. At 2.5 tonnes, a heavy beast, but it can still hit 0-62mph in 3.6sec, powering on to a top speed of 189mph. A whopping amount of space is also the order of the day, with 1630 litres or cargo room.

*Everything we know about the BMW M5 Touring*

*BMW X3*

Internal-combustion X3 grows in size to help differentiate it from the BMW X1. It gains more electrified engines, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol as well as a diesel. 3.0-litre petrol and diesels will also join the setup. The Neue Klasse electric iX3 will follow in 2026.

*Everything we know about the new BMW X3*

*Cupra Leon*

You won't mistake Spain's Golf GTI for a Seat again, as Cupra ushers in a more purposeful look that brings it into line with the newer (and Cupra-only) Born, Formentor and Tavascan. The Leon follows the closely related VW Golf in gaining some extensive tech and mechanical upgrades for 2024, with longer-range PHEVs, quicker infotainment and – praise be – more buttons and switches on the cards.

*Everything we know about the new Cupra Leon*

*Dacia Bigster*

Kick-starting the brand's push into the crucial C-segment, the Bigster is a 4.6-metre-long rival to the Ford Kuga and will cost less than £40,000 when it is launched later this year. It will be based on the same CMF platform as its similar-size Renault Group siblings, the Nissan X-Trail and Renault Austral, and is being engineered from the off with an outright focus on affordability.

*Everything we know about the Dacia Bigster*

*Dacia Duster*

An early contender for bargain of the year? Dacia's 4x4 has swapped onto a new platform for a promised boost in refinement and capability, and is now available with hybrid power for the first time.

*Read our Dacia Duster review*

*DS 4 E-Tense*

Electric version of posh French hatchback will be closely related to the new Peugeot E-3008 with which it shares a platform. That means it should be available with either a 73kWh or 98kWh (the latter giving an impressive 435-mile range) and up to 316bhp in a performance-flavoured range-topper.

*Ferrari EV*

Ferrari hasn’t said what form its first EV will take, but it will feature in-house batteries, motors and electronics. The CEO has driven a prototype but would only say: “I like it a lot.”

*Fiat Grande Panda*

The Italian cousin of the Citroën ë-C3 will hark back to its 1980 progenitor with retro design and a simple kit offering. Its set-up comprises of a 44kWh battery and a 111bhp single electric motor, returning 199 miles of range. It will also offer combustion-engined powertrains.

*Everything we know about the new Fiat Grande Panda*

*Fiat Topolino*

Turin’s 1950s-flavoured take on the Citroën Ami can be specified without doors, which would be rather more appropriate on Camber Sands than in Camberwell, where you’re more likely to see one. It’s sure to be the ultimate conversation starter.

*Everything we know about the Fiat Topolino*

*Ford Capri*

The Blue Oval has resurrected the hallowed Capri name for its second electric crossover based on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform, serving as a direct rival to the Volvo C40 Recharge and new Peugeot e-3008.

It's actually more like a raised saloon than an SUV-coupé (similar to the Polestar 2), with a raft of bespoke design cues to differentiate it from the larger Explorer. it produces similar power to the Focus ST and has an official range of up to 400 miles.

*Everything we know about the Ford Capri*

*Ford E-Transit Custom*

Don't skip over this one - it could be one of the most important new model launches of 2024. Seriously. The Transit Custom is (quite comfortably) the UK's best-selling vehicle, so the arrival of an all-electric version with up to 236 miles of range is pretty important. Full details are still to come, but it looks likely to get the 68kWh battery from the bigger E-Transit, and could pack up to 265bhp in its most potent form.

*Everything we know about the Ford E-Transit Custom*

*Jaecoo 7*

Chinese car giant Chery is coming to the UK with Omoda (further down this list) and the Jaecoo brand.

The 7 SUV is Hyundai Tucson-sized and will likely come with plug-in hybrid powertrains. A dealer network of 50 sites is being set up, with franchise partners including Listers and Peter Vardy.

*Everything we know about the Jaecoo 7*

*Jeep Avenger 4x4*

Four-wheel-drive version of Jeep’s baby EV will blend urban manoeuvrability with brand-appropriate ruggedness.

*Read our Jeep Avenger review*

*Jeep Recon*

Jeep’s electric Land Rover Defender rival gets 600bhp and a 3.5sec 0-62mph time. The car’s upright stance and square front end are borrowed from the Wrangler, and like that SUV, the doors can be removed.

*Everything we know about the Jeep Recon*

*Kia EV3*

Kia’s push into more affordable EVs will begin with this futuristic Soul successor, due to arrive with a price tag of around £28,500. It will use the E-GMP platform and offer multiple powertrains, including a rapid GT one, and can produce up to 373 miles of range.

*Everything we know about the Kia EV3*

*Koenigsegg Gemera*

Koenigsegg doesn’t do normal. So its first four-seater can be had with either a camless twin-turbo triple or a twin-turbo V8 engine within a PHEV system to offer either 1381bhp or 2268bhp. Because of course it can.

*Everything we know about the Koenigsegg Gemera*

*Maserati Grancabrio*

The Granturismo with its roof lopped off, the Grancabrio is expected to offer the same mix of ICE and electric powertrains, with only a slight penalty to performance. The soft-top is expected to arrive in the second half of 2024, after the coupé.

*Everything we know about the new Maserati Grancabrio*

*Maserati Grecale Folgore*

This family SUV will be key to Maserati's assault on the electric car market, as one of six EVs it's launching by 2025. Its performance won't be quite as outrageous as the Granturismo Folgore's but still strong, with more than 500bhp and a 0-62mph time of 4.5sec.

*Everything we know about the Maserati Grecale Folgore*

*Maserati MC20 Folgore*

The first electric supersports car. Maserati says it’s committed to retaining the feel of a V6 while giving it whip-crack acceleration, courtesy of an expected 745bhp and 997lb ft of torque.

*Everything we know about the Maserati MC20 Folgore*

*Maybach EQS SUV*

Maybach’s first electric car beats rivals Bentley and Rolls-Royce to the punch, as the first properly luxurious zero-emission SUV on the market. It can be had with a spacious four-seat interior, in which rear passengers are treated to reclining and massaging thrones. In spite of all the extra gadgetry – and its weight – performance is improved compared with the current range-topping Mercedes EQS SUV, the 580.

*Everything we know about the Maybach EQS SUV*

*Mercedes-AMG CLE 63*

Hot super saloon, anybody? The new mild hybrid Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 could be the car for you, adding heavily ramped-up performance, a redesigned interior and sporty exterior styling over the standard car. Some 442bhp and 413lb ft of torque is pumped out from AMG’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, which is backed up by an integrated starter-generator (ISG). You’ll be as fast as almost anything else on the road, with a 4.2sec sprint from 0-62mph and a top speed limited to 155mph.

*Mercedes-AMG E63*

Yes, yes, the Mercedes-AMG is losing its V8 engine for a straight-six plug-in hybrid. But it’s not all bad - it will gain electric-only driving for improved economy, plus higher power and performance than ever before. Figures are still under wraps, but it’s claimed the brand is targeting more than 700bhp and 884lb ft, which puts many sports and supercars to shame.

*Everything we know about the Mercedes-AMG E63*

*Mercedes-AMG GLC 63*

Much like its saloon sibling, the Mercedes-AMG C63, the new high-performance GLC loses its twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8. In its place is a plug-in-hybrid powertrain, pairing a fettled version of the Mercedes-AMG A45’s turbocharged four-pot with a rear-mounted electric motor. The result is a combined output of 671bhp and 752lb ft of torque. That’s enough to send the GLC – all 2.2 tonnes of it – from 0-62mph in just 3.5sec.

*Everything we know about the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63*

*Mercedes-AMG S63*

Want an AMG-tuned saloon with a V8? Your last remaining option is the S63 – the most powerful S-Class to date. It adds a rear-mounted electric motor and 13.1kWh battery to AMG’s 4.0-litre powerplant, giving combined outputs of 791bhp and 1054lb ft. That’s sufficient to crack the 0-62mph sprint in 3.3sec – half a second quicker than the famed McLaren-Mercedes SLR, which was almost an entire tonne lighter.

*Everything we know about the new Mercedes-AMG S63*

*Mini Aceman*

The indirect successor to the Mini Clubman, the Aceman, is an electric crossover sandwiched between the Cooper and the significantly larger Countryman. It will use a stretched version of the Cooper EV’s Spotlight architecture, with the same mix of powertrains and battery packs.

*Everything we know about the Mini Aceman*

*Nio EL6*

Electric Chinese car majors on practicality, with 668 litres of boot space – more than you’ll find in an Audi Q4 or Ford Mustang Mach-E – and 40/20/40-split rear seats. Four-wheel drive is standard, thanks to a dual-motor set-up outputting a combined 482bhp and 516lb ft. Meanwhile, a 70kWh battery yields a range of around 300 miles between charges. It’s also compatible with Nio’s battery-swap stations, which can remove a pack and replace it with a fully-charged one in fewer than five minutes.

*Everything we know about the Nio EL6*

*Nio ET5*

The ET5 is a pretty slick premium saloon and a very credible rival to the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3. Expect it here late in the year, although not until a number of swap stations are ready, so council planning departments may have an oversized influence…

*Read our Nio ET5 review*

*Nissan Ariya Nismo*

The Nismo name returns for a high-performance variant of Nissan’s mainstream electric crossover. It gets a more aggressive, track-biased set-up for the four-wheel drive system, plus more than 400bhp in its most powerful specification.

*Omoda C5*

The Omoda C5 is a direct competitor (and lookalike) of the Aiways U5 found further up this list. The C5 showcases the talents of Chinese giant Chery, which has the scale to cause a stir in the UK.

*Everything we know about the Omoda C5*

*Peugeot e-408*

The Peugeot E-408 is expected to adopt Stellantis’s favoured combo of a single 154bhp electric motor and 51kWh (usable) battery pack. That should yield a 0-62mph time below 10sec and a range north of 200 miles.

* *

*Peugeot e-Rifter*

Re-styled front end brings small seven-seater into line with Peugeot’s new three-fanged look, ushered in with the new 3008. It also receives an interior upgrade, bringing a larger 10in infotainment touchscreen.

*Polestar 3*

The sporting sibling of the new Volvo EX90 gets a 510bhp dual-motor powertrain and a 111kWh battery, delivering a range of 379 miles between charges.

Our review on foreign Tarmac revealed rapid pace, communicative steering and a roomy, nicely finished interior. And a hefty price tag.

*Read our Polestar 3 review*

*Polestar 4*

The Polestar 4 is a pure-electric take on the Porsche Macan and Polestar’s fourth model. It’s tipped to be the company’s bestselling model and will be built in China and Korea. Intriguingly the Chinese market cars will receive an entirely different operating system. Notably, it will not come with a rear window.

*Everything we know about the Polestar 4*

*Range Rover Electric*

New cars don’t get much more significant than this: JLR has invested heavily in its electric transformation, and while the reinvented Jaguars will steal the limelight, the first electric Range Rover will be crucial to finding sales volume and perhaps helping convert a new group of buyers to EVs.

*Everything we know about the Range Rover Electric*

*Renault 4*

Renault will revive another of its most popular historic models, this time as a small, retro crossover that’s aimed at the city but should be able to cope off road. Expect it to be mechanically similar to the 5 below. But Renault insists the interior will be very different.

*Everything we know about the Renault 4*

*Renault Symbioz*

This brand-new entrant to the French brand’s crossover range will fill the gap between the Captur and Arkana. With styling inspired by the latter, it follows the firm’s latest design language and sits atop the CMF-EV platform, shared with the Nissan Ariya and Renault Mégane E-Tech.

*Seres 3*

Haven't heard of Seres? You're probably not the only one. The 3 will start from £29,995 - making it the cheapest electric SUV on sale. The Qashqai-sized car has a 161bhp front motor, a 54kWh battery and an official range of just over 200 miles.

*Smart #3*

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The original Fortwo feels like a distant memory now, as the biggest Smart yet is a Volkswagen ID 5-rivalling EV with five seats and 273 miles of range. It drives well enough, is good value and it’s pretty good looking too. Such a shame that the driver assistance tech is infuriatingly poor.

*Read our Smart #3 review*

*Subaru Forester*

The Mk5 Forester stays true to form with a sensible two-box body, symmetrical four-wheel drive and a smattering of new tech inside. Plus a full hybrid version has been confirmed.

*Toyota Supra 'GRMN'*

A hotter new variant of the GR Supra is set to arrive in 2024, swapping the BMW Z4’s B58 straight six for the fiery S58 one from the new BMW M2. That should make for a very healthy power bump, while track-focused revisions to the chassis could enable it to bid for sports car supremacy at the Nürburgring. Which would be fitting.

*Everything we know about the Toyota Supra GRMN*

*Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB*

Could this be the most useful EV on the market? Volkswagen’s reborn ‘bus’ finally lives up to its billing with seats for seven in long-wheelbase form, also gaining a bigger battery and a more powerful motor.

*Everything we know about the VW ID Buzz LWB*

*Volvo EX90*

Volvo’s priciest car to date is also billed to be its safest and most luxurious. A zero-emission equivalent to the Volvo XC90 SUV, the EX90 comes with a 111kWh battery that provides a (claimed) range of 364 miles in Twin Motor specification, and 360 miles in the Performance model. The Range Rover rival also introduces Lidar technology, which is planned to eventually enable “unsupervised autonomous driving” in select locations and conditions.

*Everything we know about the Volvo EX90*

*Wiesmann Project Thunderball*

German firm best known for its BMW V8-engined muscle cars gives us the first electric convertible since the Tesla Roadster. Our early drive in a prototype was encouraging, so we can’t wait to try the 671bhp finished product. It’s just a shame it will cost more than £250,000.

*Read our Wiesmann Project Thunderball review*

*Xpeng G6*

Xpeng promises to be an upmarket proposition, and our first taste of its cars suggests it could be a credible premium alternative. Its first UK car will be – surprise – a mid-size electric SUV, and it’s named after Far East Movement’s 2010 pop song Like a G6… possibly.

*Everything we know about the Xpeng G6*

*Zenvo Aurora*

This Danish hypercar might be one of the most ludicrous to date, packing a 6.6-litre quad-turbocharged V12 and three electric motors, all combining for a total output of 1850bhp. Prices will start at around £3 million, but plenty of (costly) customisation options will also be available.

*Everything we know about the Zenvo Aurora*