Exclusive: brilliant new cars coming soon

While being the world’s oldest car magazine, Autocar keeps an eagle eye on the future as well as venerating the past.

We have an expert artist who loves producing his impression of how the world’s best cars coming soon will look. We start in 2018 and go through all the way to 2022. So feast your eyes and enjoy:

2018: Audi A1

The next generation of the Audi A1 will be much bigger than the current car, which means there is more space inside. The inside will also get more equipment and is expected to be a little more luxurious. A range of turbo petrol and diesel engines are expected while the entry-level car could come with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine. The new A1 will come out in the first half of 2018, at an estimated UK starting price of around £15,000.  It will be available in all other markets in the first half of 2018, at prices TBD.  

2018: Audi A6

The next Audi A6 will be based on a new design language that was first seen in the new 2018 A7 and A8. An interior layout is also expected along with new equipment. Power will be sourced from a range of four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines. Plug-in hybrid systems could also be offered. The new MLB platform the car is based on will help reduce weight.  

2018: Audi TTQ

The TTQ will become an offroad version of the TT coupe and could get all-wheel drive. The SUV is essentially the Q4, but Audi cannot use the name Q4 since Alfa Romeo owns the nameplate.  This should be available in all markets. 

2018: Toyota Supra

Toyota is looking to bring back the legendary name with a production version of the FT-1 concept shown at the 2014 Detroit motor show. It will share its platform with the upcoming BMW Z5 and will have a four-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. It will be automatic-only, and will feature BMW switchgear and infotainment. 

2018: Alfa Romeo large SUV

Alfa Romeo will launch another SUV to sit above the Stelvio. The as yet unnamed five-seater will be based on the Maserati Levante. It will rival the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7 and will come out in the first half of 2018. We estimate starting prices of £50,000 (UK), $55,000 (US), $71,000 (CAD), $110,000 (AU), R 1 090 000 (SA), AED208,000 (UAE).  

2018: BMW X7

BMW will take on the Range Rover with its largest SUV, the X7. It will get technologies and luxury from the 7 Series saloon. Six-cylinder and eight-cylinder petrol and diesel engines will be offered when the car goes on sale in most markets in late 2018. We saw a preview concept at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2017, and it will sell in all major markets. 

2018: DS 3 SUV

As a key rival to the Mini Countryman, PSA Group will launch the DS 3 SUV with new engines and improved quality. Four-wheel drive is unlikely to be offered. Prices are expected to be between £18,000 to £22,000, and will be available in all the markets that DS operates in, which is to say most of them except the US, Canada, Mexico, and South Asia.

2018: Audi Q8

Audi is looking to take on the BMW X6 and with a coupe-SUV. It will share mechanical components with the Q7 and will get a high-end equipment from the 2017 A8. More powerful SQ8 will follow, which could be a hybrid. 

2018: Audi RSQ8

In due course, the Q8 will be followed up by a hot RS version. We expect it will feature a heavily-fettled version of the German car maker’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8.

Already used in a number of performance orientated Audi models, the 90-degree unit destined for the RS Q8 is claimed to pack 605bhp and 516lb ft of torque.

2018: Jeep Grand Wagoneer

First announced by FCA boss Sergio Marchionne back in 2011, Jeep will finally be bringing back the Grand Wagoneer as a premium offering to rival the Range Rover, based on the Dodge Durango. It is also expected to boast strong performance and off-road capabilities. 

Late 2018: Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The Cullinan will be Rolls-Royce’s first SUV and its first all-wheel drive vehicle. Powered by a 6.8-litre V12 petrol engine from the Phantom, it will take on the Bentley Bentayga and the most expensive versions of the Range Rover. It will be based on a new aluminium architecture which will be shared with future Rolls-Royce models. 

2018: Audi RS7

This model becomes the new A7 range-topper, and will get the same twin-turbo V8 that appears in the new Bentley Continental GT, albeit boosted to around 600bhp.

2018: Seat large SUV

This as yet unnamed vehicle will be Seat’s third SUV that will take on the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe. The SUV will be share its platform, technology and engine range with the Skoda Kodiaq. It will be available as a five-seater and as a seven-seater and will be priced around £22,000. 

2018: Bentley Continental GTC

Convertible version of the upcoming Bentley Continental GT. Sharing its platform with the Porsche Panamera, it will come with a W12 petrol engine, a V8 petrol engine and, later, a hybrid powertrain. 

2018: BMW Z5

Replacement to the BMW Z4 will share its platform with the upcoming Toyota Supra. It’ll get turbocharged four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. A hybrid four-wheel drive powertrain could also be offered. The BMW Z5 will come with a soft top, and BMW switchgear and infotainment. 

2018: Skoda Kodiaq VRS

The Kodiaq vRS will feature some design tweaks to stand out from the standard Kodiaq, which are likely to include more aggressive bumper styling elements and extra trim around the windows and front grilles. The model will have both petrol and diesel engines.

2018: Honda S2000

Honda’s answer to the Mazda MX-5 could also revive the S2000 name. It will be a front engined, rear-wheel drive roadster, which could be priced above the Mazda. While the base could get a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, more powerful Type-R variants could form the top-end. 

2018: BMW 8 Series

BMW will bring back the 8 Series nameplate with a competitor to the Mercedes S-Class Coupe and the Porsche Panamera. The car will be offered as a two-door coupe and cabriolet and a four-door Gran Coupe, and there will be an M8 high-performance variant later.  It will get a lot of equipment and technologies from the 7 Series saloon, and was previewed in concept form in 2017. We expect a summer 2018 reveal.

2018: Volvo S90/V90 Polestar

For the S90/V90 Polestar, Volvo has decided to go the hybrid route, unlike Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models. Volvo is concentrating on increasing response and drivability. 

2019: Audi e-tron SUV

Originally slated to be known as the Q6, this new electric car was revealed in concept form in 2015. It is claimed to be capable of eeking out more than 500 kilometres (311 miles) from a single charge.

The Q6 will be built from 2018 at Audi's Brussels production plant, where its batteries will also be created.

2019: Alfa Romeo Saloon

Alfa Romeo is rumoured to want to take on the BMW 5-series with a new rear-wheel drive as-yet-unnamed executive saloon. It will be powered by a range of four-cylinder engines from the smaller Giulia along with a V6 petrol engine for the Quadrifoglio and the company’s first six-cylinder diesel engine.

A hybrid version could also be offered. Guesses on the name? We think Milano, a name Alfa has recently re-trademarked, which is what the old 75 was called there; we’d guess the 75 badge would be resurrected elsewhere.  

2019: Skoda Rona

Skoda will launch a new crossover based on the Volkswagen MQB A0 platform that will sit underneath the Karoq and Kodiaq in the firm's SUV range.

The new model is described as a sister car to the new Rapid Spaceback estate that Skoda will launch in 2019. It is understood it will be pushed firmly as a crossover rather than a SUV, but it will likely follow the Alaskan-inspired naming convention of the Karoq and Kodiaq, and will be styled to ensure it looks part of Skoda's growing SUV family.

The new SUV is designed for sale worldwide, including Europe and China. Sources suggest it will only be available in front-wheel drive initially.

2019: BMW 3 Series Saloon G20

We predict a spring 2019 reveal for the successor to the current F30 3 Series, with a drive-away date a few months later. A longer wheelbase and softer suspension is in the offing, along with two new M performance models with six-cylinder engines, a 360bhp M340i petrol, and a 320bhp M340d diesel, the latter with four-wheel-drive.

There will also be two petrol-electric plug-in models. A slippery drag-coefficient of just 0.22 is also promised, and the model is targeted squarely at the current Mercedes C-Class.  

2019: Audi City Car

Audi is preparing to launch a city car — a new youth orientated model that will become its cheapest offering in key global markets, and a successor of sorts to the A2. The compact four-seater is tentatively scheduled for a launch in 2019. It has been conceived to offer a choice of petrol power or electric propulsion, according to Audi sources.

The city car will be shorter than 4000mm (157in) in length and will sit below the A1 in an expanded Audi line-up. As well as traditional small-car rivals, it will also seek to challenge a raft of contemporary electric cars, such as the BMW i3, Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf.

2019: Bentley Bentayga Coupe

The Bentayga is far from the end of the company’s SUV journey. We expect a wider family of Bentley Bentaygas building on the sales success of the luxury SUV.

Plans include launching a coupé-styled version of the car. Other spinoffs could include a long-wheelbase version and possibly a limited-edition high-performance model in a similar vein to the Bentley Continental GT3-R.

2019: BMW 1 Series

The new 1 Series will maintain the current model's long nose, sloping roofline and large wheels. What's different, though, is the advent of front-wheel drive. We estimate an unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show in 2019, with sales starting before the end of that year.

2019: Bugatti Galibier

Originally shown as a concept car in 2009, the four-door Bugatti was killed by the Great Recession. However, in 2016 we learned that it had been revived. Something of a sister vehicle to the Chiron, the engine however will be at the front.

2019: Land Rover Defender

The iconic defender will be back in 2019 with an all-new model. Land Rover wants to equip the off-roader with all the latest technologies to make it the most capable off-roader in the world. Civilised and hardcore versions will be offered. 

2019: Mercedes-Maybach SUV

With a £150,000 expected price tag, this upcoming as yet unnamed Maybach will be the most expensive and luxurious SUV from Mercedes. Based on the next generation of the GLS, the SUV will compete with top-spec Range Rovers, Bentley Bentayga and forthcoming Rolls-Royce SUV and will have performance and features equivalent to the Maybach S-Class. 

2019: Tesla Model Y

Announced at a recent Tesla shareholders’ meeting, this new SUV will be the smaller brother of the Model X, and based on a new platform. 

2019: Tesla pick-up

Tesla has confirmed that the as yet unnamed pickup will go on sale. This will be an all-electric vehicle. Expect to see this in the first half of 2019.  

2019: Aston Martin DBX

The DBX will be Aston Martin’s first crossover. It will get a turbocharged V12 engine from the DB11 and production will start in 2019, at a new factory at St Athan in Wales. 

2019: Volvo XC20

Fresh from its launch of the XC40, Volvo will go a size down with a new city-SUV to challenge the likes of the Audi Q2 in a very fast-growing product segment; it also has an all-new range of 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engines to power it. 

2019: Road Rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will launch a new model line, the Road Rover, before the end of the decade. The first production vehicle will be a premium all-electric model, aimed primarily at markets such as California in the US and China.

The first Road Rover is understood to be a Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival in terms of outright luxury and interior craftsmanship but with
 some ‘all-terrain’ capability. The car will also be tuned 
for impressive on-road dynamic performance, taking advantage of the potential delivered by electric motors.

2019: Jaguar XJ

The next Jaguar XJ will be the sister car to the Road Rover and also be exclusively electric-powered. For long trailing behind German competitors in the luxury car segment, the next XJ Jaguar is seeking to change the rules of the game by making a bold gamble on going purely electric years before rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-Class.

2019: Honda NSX R

Honda is contemplating convertible, lightweight, non-hybrid and all-electric versions, one of which is set to wear the Type R badge. 

2020: Porsche Mission-E

Previewed at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show, the Mission E concept will go into production as an all-electric four-door car that will sit below the Porsche Panamera. Built on a bespoke chassis, it is expected to get two electric motors with a range of more than 330 miles. 

2020: SEAT Born

This Seat will be Leon-sized, suggesting it will be based on the larger hatchback model. It would be likely to inherit hardware from the VW e-Golf, which currently uses a 35.8kWh lithium ion battery to produce 134bhp and 214lb ft of torque.

2020: Volkswagen ID

The ID will be Volkswagen’s first all-electric car. The rear-wheel drive five-door hatchback is expected to have a 168bhp electric motor and a range of 373 miles. 

2020: Porsche Cayenne Coupe

Last year Porsche confirmed it was looking into joining the space currently filled by the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe, though this model isn’t 100% confirmed.

2020: Dyson car

A team of 400 people are currently working on a new electric car powered by solid-state batteries from British vacuum cleaner pioneer James Dyson. The billionaire has committed £2 billion to the project.

2020: Ferrari 812 Superfast Hybrid

Currently, the only Ferrari road cars to use hybrid power are the LaFerrari and the LaFerrari Aperta, but the 812’s successor, which is expected to arrive around 2020, is rumoured to become the first mainstream model to use hybrid electric power.

Ferrari CEO Sergio Marchionne explained in 2016 that using a mixture of combustion engine and electric power will help to make cars even faster while also improving efficiency.

2020: Audi A9

Audi will take on the Tesla Model S with the A9 e-tron. It will be a four-wheel drive all-electric saloon positioned above the Audi A8. Range has been estimated at 311 miles. 

2020: Lotus Elise

The new Elise will herald a new generation of the sports cars for Lotus. It’s expected to grow in size, while at the same time, weigh less than a 1000kg. Lotus is also looking to improve quality and performance. 

2020: Ariel P40

British firm Ariel will launch what it believes will be the fastest-accelerating and most advanced supercar in history, a 1200bhp, four-wheel-drive electric two-seater with a revolutionary turbine range extender powertrain.

The vehicle, codenamed the P40, will be capable of 0-100mph in just 3.8sec, and is scheduled for production in 2020.

2020: McLaren Senna Racer

The recently unveiled Senna will almost certainly go racing. Despite featuring technology like active aerodynamics and adjustable ride height, kit that is currently banned in most motorsport, rule changes could see it taking part in a future Le Mans 24 Hour race, for example.

2020: Porsche 911 (992)

The next generation of the 911, including the GT3, will get a range of turbocharged six-cylinder engines, with a slight bump up in power. For the first time, a hybrid variant is also expected in the 911 range. Designated the 992, it will get improved aerodynamics and changes to the interior. 

2021: Lotus SUV

Even lightweight specialist Lotus can’t ignore the global sales success of the SUV segment. Now owned by Chinese giant Geely, which also owns Volvo, we expect design hallmarks of the Evora and Elise, albeit on a raised, chunky body, with dramatic design lines across the sides of the car’s body. The new car will probably be produced at least in part in China.

2021: Land Rover Freelander

The last Freelander died in 2014 when the Discovery Sport replaced it, but that car was larger and more expensive. The Freelander name will return with a small SUV around 4200 mm in length (165in), and will compete with vehicles like Audi Q2 and BMW X2. We expect a hybrid-power option.

2021: Ferrari SUV

Sources at the company have finally admitted that a ‘Ferrari Utility Vehicle’ is on the way. Auto analyst Max Warburton suggests that although four-door, the rear doors ‘won’t be visible.’ The SUV market is clearly too hot for even Ferrari to ignore, and Warburton estimates sales of 2000-300 per year. We estimate pricing of around £250,000 (UK) and $300,000 (US).  

2021: Jaguar 2+2

A Jaguar 2+2 GT is back on the cards, and would sit alongside the brand’s next-generation F-Type if it makes production.

Jaguar design director Ian Callum told Autocar recently: “I want a two-seater [the F-Type] and a 2+2. We’re working on something now. There’s nothing approved, but we instigate in design – that’s what we do.”

2021: Lamborghini 4-door

A fourth line product line for Lamorghini – beyond the Huracán and Aventador supercars, and the new Urus SUV – has long been the subject of debate at the firm. Discussions have centred on how Lamborghini could take advantage of platform developments at the Volkswagen Group to make profitable cars despite its relatively low volumes.

Autocar understands that the frontrunning model for production is currently a front-engined, four-door four-seater. This layout was evaluated with the Estoque concept that was revealed in 2008, but development of that car was eventually put on hold in favour of the Urus due to the global economic crisis, surging global sales of SUVs and the financial benefits of sharing the VW Group’s MLB Evo platform.

2022: Aston Martin V8

In 2022 Aston Martin departs its comfort zone and goes squarely into battle against the Ferrari 488 GTB. This is the final car in a new series of Astons which will see a major new model launch every year.  For all the excitement over electrification and hybrids, this model will feature a reassuringly familiar mid-mounted V8 petrol engine.

And finally...The Ferrari Pickup truck

We’re not convinced that this car will ever come to pass, but we think it would be mighty cool if it did…