12 Future Cars That Are Worth the Wait
From efficient EVs to hyper-class sports cars and rugged retro-inspired SUVS, our automotive future looks exceptionally bright—and a lot of joy. Here are a dozen machines that we can’t wait to drive.
A dedicated car enthusiast leads a life of waiting. and waiting. and waiting, but fortunately there’s slew of vehicles in the next five years that are worth our saint-like patience. Many beloved models make a triumphant come back, electrical vehicles take center stage, and sports cars pack in even more innovation (and horsepower).
These are the twelve vehicles to be most excited about in the coming days, months, and years.
one 2018 Tesla Model Trio
Tesla has built a serious reputation for delivering vehicles that just don’t go after the rules set by traditional automakers. Want a sleek-looking high-performance EV with room for five that can travel almost three hundred miles on a charge? Only Tesla makes such a vehicle—the Model S. Oh, and by the way Tesla has versions of the car that can hit sixty mph in three seconds or less. It’s a truly an excellent sports sedan that just happens to be electrified. The only drawback? It’s pricey. The most potent models can lightly exceed the six-figure threshold.
Tesla fans have been anxiously anticipating a more affordable model—the Model Three. In fact, its estimated that Tesla has more than 400,000 preorders for the fresh sedan.
The idea of a $35,000 Tesla is intoxicating. Elon musk has said the Model Three, the very first of which will arrive late this year (barring any delays) will have a range of more than two hundred fifteen miles inbetween charge-ups and hit sixty mph in around six seconds. The Model three prototype unveiled last spring was slick-looking with room for four, and a massive 15-inch iPad-like screen on the inwards substituting all the typical gauges. The future of Tesla is railing on this more affordable sedan. The company needs to draw more customers into the brand in big numbers. If Tesla can supply this car on time and exceed expectations of its potential owners, the Model three could be the most successful vehicle Tesla has ever produced.
two 2018 Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender was a direct descendant of the one thousand nine hundred forty eight Land Rover Series I, England’s version of the Jeep CJ. Albeit the Series I, II, and III and later Defender models were used around the world, we haven’t had one on our shores for twenty years. Land Rover couldn’t adapt the rugged, nude bones Defender to meet modern U.S. safety regulations so it had to go. Since its departure, the prices of Defender models, which were sold in the U.S. from 1993-1997, have swelled to six figures and beyond.
So, it’s clear, the fair capability of the Defender resonates with today’s truck enthusiast. And fortunate for us, Land Rover will bring an all-new Defender to our shores in 2018.
The fresh Defender is likely to borrow some classic styling cues from past models but bring the design forward, too, and it will almost certainly look tougher than the weak-kneed DC one hundred Concept from two thousand eleven (pictured above). Under that skin will be the same chassis architecture used by the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and fresh Discovery. That means that unlike the Jeep Wrangler, the fresh Defender won’t have solid axles at each end. But hey, this is Land Rover so it should still be very capable.
Land Rover has said it will contain fresh parts, unrelated to its platform mates to improve capability. Regardless, the fresh Defender will almost certainly rail and treat far better on paved roads than any that has come before. So, it might end up being the best of all worlds.
three 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
In the 1960s and early 1970s, car enthusiasts were flooded with special versions of already potent musclecars designed to win street races and clean up at the local haul unclothe or road course. The cars were so tumultuous, they were slightly street-legal. The musclecar rebirth has brought back many modern-day versions of these titillating machines from the Ford Shelby GT five hundred and GT three hundred fifty to the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.
Then Dodge launched the Challenger Hellcat with an eye-watering seven hundred seven hp and an 11.7 2nd run down the ¼ mile, according to our friends at Car and Driver who tested one back in 2015. But that wasn’t fairly good enough for Dodge. Next year, they will launch the Demon—an even more powerful Challenger designed expressly to drive straight to the haul unclothe and predominate.
Under the Demon’s spandex hood is a reported eight hundred hp version of the Hellcat’s V8. That’s astonishing. Dodge has also said that the Demon is over two hundred pounds lighter than the normal Hellcat. The spy photos of the Demon display it has a broader track and big flares covering those extra-sticky haul radial tires. So, with more power, less weight, and slew of grip, the Demon should be one of the quickest production cars to run the ¼-mile regardless of price. We’ll know more hard facts when the Demon is officially unveiled in April at the Fresh York Auto Demonstrate.
four 2019 Toyota Supra
The Supra was Toyota’s top spectacle car from the late 1970s until 1998. The Supra was originally a more powerful and more luxurious version of the Celica coupe. But by the 2nd generation, the Supra eventually stood alone as a separate model and gained the option of a turbo. But it was the third-generation that gave the Supra its high-performance picture. The twin-turbo model launched in one thousand nine hundred ninety six made Corvette power (320 hp) and became the stuff of fantasies for an entire generation of import car fans. The durable inline-six-cylinder engine could be modified to securely treat hundreds of extra horsepower, and the Supra became a sensation starring in 2001’s The Swift and the Furious. In two brief years—the Supra will comeback.
This time, instead of developing this all-new sports car on their own, Toyota will playmate with BMW and share parts with the upcoming BMW Z5. This is good news because BMW certainly has the expertise to build a fun-driving sports machine. Many are predicting that under the Supra’s fetish mask will be a choice of either a potent twin-turbo V6 or some type of hybrid powertrain. And many, including enthusiast websites, think the fresh car should carry forward some design themes introduced in the radical FT-1 Concept (pictured above). It’s been years since Toyota fans have had a real high-performance sports car, and this Supra should be as good to look at is it is to drive.
five 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan
Big, luxurious SUVs are predominant traffic in car dealerships these days. The Range Rover indeed embarked the high-end luxury SUV trend in the U.S. back in the later 1980s and had no competition for many years. But today just about every upscale brand has a vehicle to fit the needs of buyers looking for a roomy, high-riding machine. Rolls Royce, BMW’s ultra-luxury arm, has so far stuck to cars. And that was the case with the company’s archrival Bentley, too. But now Bentley has the six hundred hp Bentayga SUV. Rolls Royce will response with an SUV of their own in 2019, the Cullinan, and you can bet it will indulge with even more upscale features and perhaps even more power than the Bentley.
Reports suggest that the Cullinan will rail on an all-new platform specified expressly for Rolls Royce products. Translation? No need to compromise on the specs to appease less expensive BMWs. Prototypes of the massive machine emerge to be enormous, perhaps larger than any luxury SUV this side of a Cadillac Escalade. And we can only guess the Cullinan will suggest V12 power under that table-top bondage mask. If the SUV sales trend resumes for Rolls Royce, the Cullinan will not only become frantically popular in wealthy enclaves, but it will be the company’s best seller.
six 2019 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The original Jeep Wagoneer, one of the very very first SUVs, launched way back in 1963. Its lines were penned by legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens and lasted almost thirty years. In the 1980s, its name became Grand Wagoneer and almost every one was fitted with broad woodgrain paneling and trimmed in soft leather. It was an American luxury SUV whose only true competitor was the Range Rover. The last Wagoneer spinned off the assembly line in 1991, but today they are cherished amongst fans and guideline serious money in good condition. Since SUVs (both modern and old school) are thriving in popularity Jeep determined the time was right for a remake. So, a fresh Grand Wagoneer is planned to hit dealerships right around two thousand nineteen (however delays have been reported).
Judging by the size of the current Grand Cherokee, in order for Jeep to have an even larger, more capable SUV, the company would need to budge to a body-on-frame chassis or earnestly alter the next-generation Grand Cherokee platform. If Jeep goes the more capable route, it means borrowing a chassis from Ram. As a bonus, both the one thousand five hundred and two thousand five hundred series Ram pickups already use a comfortable-riding coil sprung rear suspension—perfect for an SUV.
A Ram one thousand five hundred pickup-based Grand Wagoneer would hypothetically have the size and luxury to challenge a Cadillac Escalade but mixed with Jeep off-road capability. No vehicle made by an American manufacturer meets those needs. The company’s efficient Ecodiesel V6 would make an excellent power plant. We’ll take one in Hunter Green with woodgrain paneling, please.
seven 2019 Chevy Silverado
The future is amazingly arousing for Chevrolet fans that like to go rapid, with (ultimately) a mid-engine Corvette on the horizon. But the vehicle platform that makes the most money for the brand rails underneath the assets of a pickup truck. The last major redesign of the light-duty fullsize Silverado pickup was back in 2014. However, much of that vehicles framework and suspension date back the two thousand seven model year. After a more than decade, it’s time for GM to up its game. The next all-new Silverado is due to hit showroom for 2019.
Ford may be married to puny turbo engines and aluminum, but GM is still making its trucks from steel and loading V8s into their noses. We suspect that the next Silverado (the one pictured above is the two thousand seventeen 2500hd) will have fairly a few figure panels formed from stamped aluminum but the beds will remain steel. And however there might be a more economical small-displacement engine with a smaller cylinder count and turbo-charging, the majority of the trucks leaving the factory will likely use V8 power, and the next-gen small-block V8s should supply class-leading power and torque. Since those engines will be linked to the fresh 10-speed automatic GM has developed with Ford—these trucks should be quicker and more efficient, too.
eight 2019 Jaguar I-Pace
Seven years ago, Jaguar unveiled a plug-in hybrid concept supercar—the C-X75—and it was gorgeous. But as is the case with many concepts, the company determined not to build this slinky two-seater. In fact, Jaguar has yet to suggest a hybrid or electrified anything, and that means it’s well behind other European competitors, like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
That’s about to switch. Jaguar could skip right over hybrids and go for total electrification. Last year, Jaguar took the wraps off the I-Pace Concept electrified vehicle at the LA Auto Showcase and instantly said it would be on the road in 2018.
The I-Pace concept was a real stunner, and Jaguar has an excellent reputation translating the lines of concept vehicles directly to production without messing up the form. The production I-Pace will use an all-new electrified vehicle architecture suitable for sedans, crossovers, and perhaps even a sports car. The concept rails on a wheelbase several inches longer than the F-Pace (Jaguar’s current crossover) and is slightly narrower. The I-Pace concept uses a big ninety kWh battery which Jag says will produce more than two hundred twenty miles on a charge—and hit sixty mph in around four seconds. Sounds good to us.
nine 2019 Porsche Mission E
The specs and form of today’s Porsche nine hundred eleven harken back to some the brands earliest models. But the very very first Porsche wasn’t powered by a flat-six-cylinder engine or an engine at all. The very very first Porsche, built in 1898, was also electrical.
More recently (okay… way more recently) Porsche has embraced the technology once again and brought to market a plug-in electrified hybrid version of its Panamera sedan, Cayenne SUV, and created a beautifully quick supercar, the nine hundred eighteen Spyder. However, each one of those still carried along an internal combustion engine. But Porsche has confirmed that an all-electric model based on the two thousand fifteen Mission E (pictured above), will soon reach production.
The production version of the Mission E will be extreme. After all it has to be in order to contest with Tesla who already have a model that can reach sixty mph in less than three seconds. Porsche says the production four-door EV will produce around six hundred hp and have a range of three hundred miles. The company says the car’s 800-volt charger will be able to charge the lithium ion batteries within the car’s floor to eighty percent capacity in just fifteen minutes. That’s so quick it would be a game changer in the EV space.
Also, if the production version of the Mission E looks anything like the concept introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate back in 2015, it will become one of the most desirable models in the company’s playbook.
ten 2019 Mid-Engine Corvette C8
Since the early 1970s, Chevrolet has been taunting sports car fans with the promise of a mid-engined Corvette. Every Corvette since the very very first in one thousand nine hundred fifty three has had its engine (a V8 since 1955) sitting in the nose of the car. The mid-engine location in sports cars helps centralize the mass in the center of chassis and create more balanced treating. That’s why sports car makers like Lamborghini have been using the design since the 1960s.
The mid-engine Corvette idea was one that always seemed to be coming in the next generation of the car, but GM has never pulled the trigger. Now, five decades later, we have confirmation of a mid-engine Corvette in the form of real prototypes. If these tests, and the reports pan out, America will have its very first mid-engine Vette in the two thousand nineteen model year.
The current Corvette is an incredible performer. But a mid-engine Corvette could vault Chevy’s sports car into a rarified group a sports machinery that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and yes, Ford’s shiny-new GT supercar. The facts about the powertrain are largely conjecture at this point, but it’s most likely safe to assume that a V8 will reside in that middle location. Since this C8-generation Corvette will use a fresh platform, it seems likely that it will be engineered to treat a hybrid or plug-in powertrain.
Our colleagues at Car and Driver and Road and Track are wooed that the mid-engine Corvette will lose the option of a manual transmission. Yes, developing one transmission (a reported dual clutch) would save money and reduce complexity. But if Chevy does suggest a manual, it could be a selling point, as it would be the only supercar available with such a gearbox.
12 Future Cars That Are Worth the Wait
12 Future Cars That Are Worth the Wait
From efficient EVs to hyper-class sports cars and rugged retro-inspired SUVS, our automotive future looks exceptionally bright—and a lot of joy. Here are a dozen machines that we can’t wait to drive.
A dedicated car enthusiast leads a life of waiting. and waiting. and waiting, but fortunately there’s slew of vehicles in the next five years that are worth our saint-like patience. Many beloved models make a triumphant comeback, electrical vehicles take center stage, and sports cars pack in even more innovation (and horsepower).
These are the twelve vehicles to be most excited about in the coming days, months, and years.
one 2018 Tesla Model Three
Tesla has built a serious reputation for delivering vehicles that just don’t go after the rules set by traditional automakers. Want a sleek-looking high-performance EV with room for five that can travel almost three hundred miles on a charge? Only Tesla makes such a vehicle—the Model S. Oh, and by the way Tesla has versions of the car that can hit sixty mph in three seconds or less. It’s a truly an excellent sports sedan that just happens to be electrical. The only drawback? It’s pricey. The most potent models can lightly exceed the six-figure threshold.
Tesla fans have been anxiously anticipating a more affordable model—the Model Trio. In fact, its estimated that Tesla has more than 400,000 preorders for the fresh sedan.
The idea of a $35,000 Tesla is intoxicating. Elon musk has said the Model Three, the very first of which will arrive late this year (barring any delays) will have a range of more than two hundred fifteen miles inbetween charge-ups and hit sixty mph in around six seconds. The Model three prototype unveiled last spring was slick-looking with room for four, and a massive 15-inch iPad-like screen on the inwards substituting all the typical gauges. The future of Tesla is railing on this more affordable sedan. The company needs to draw more customers into the brand in big numbers. If Tesla can supply this car on time and exceed expectations of its potential owners, the Model three could be the most successful vehicle Tesla has ever produced.
two 2018 Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender was a direct descendant of the one thousand nine hundred forty eight Land Rover Series I, England’s version of the Jeep CJ. Albeit the Series I, II, and III and later Defender models were used around the world, we haven’t had one on our shores for twenty years. Land Rover couldn’t adapt the rugged, nude bones Defender to meet modern U.S. safety regulations so it had to go. Since its departure, the prices of Defender models, which were sold in the U.S. from 1993-1997, have swelled to six figures and beyond.
So, it’s clear, the fair capability of the Defender resonates with today’s truck enthusiast. And fortunate for us, Land Rover will bring an all-new Defender to our shores in 2018.
The fresh Defender is likely to borrow some classic styling cues from past models but bring the design forward, too, and it will almost certainly look tougher than the weak-kneed DC one hundred Concept from two thousand eleven (pictured above). Under that skin will be the same chassis architecture used by the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and fresh Discovery. That means that unlike the Jeep Wrangler, the fresh Defender won’t have solid axles at each end. But hey, this is Land Rover so it should still be very capable.
Land Rover has said it will contain fresh parts, unrelated to its platform mates to improve capability. Regardless, the fresh Defender will almost certainly rail and treat far better on paved roads than any that has come before. So, it might end up being the best of all worlds.
three 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
In the 1960s and early 1970s, car enthusiasts were flooded with special versions of already potent musclecars designed to win street races and clean up at the local haul unwrap or road course. The cars were so tumultuous, they were scarcely street-legal. The musclecar rebirth has brought back many modern-day versions of these arousing machines from the Ford Shelby GT five hundred and GT three hundred fifty to the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.
Then Dodge launched the Challenger Hellcat with an eye-watering seven hundred seven hp and an 11.7 2nd run down the ¼ mile, according to our friends at Car and Driver who tested one back in 2015. But that wasn’t fairly good enough for Dodge. Next year, they will launch the Demon—an even more powerful Challenger designed expressly to drive straight to the haul unclothe and predominate.
Under the Demon’s bondage mask is a reported eight hundred hp version of the Hellcat’s V8. That’s astonishing. Dodge has also said that the Demon is over two hundred pounds lighter than the normal Hellcat. The spy photos of the Demon showcase it has a broader track and big flares covering those extra-sticky haul radial tires. So, with more power, less weight, and slew of grip, the Demon should be one of the quickest production cars to run the ¼-mile regardless of price. We’ll know more hard facts when the Demon is officially unveiled in April at the Fresh York Auto Showcase.
four 2019 Toyota Supra
The Supra was Toyota’s top spectacle car from the late 1970s until 1998. The Supra was originally a more powerful and more luxurious version of the Celica coupe. But by the 2nd generation, the Supra eventually stood alone as a separate model and gained the option of a turbo. But it was the third-generation that gave the Supra its high-performance photo. The twin-turbo model launched in one thousand nine hundred ninety six made Corvette power (320 hp) and became the stuff of desires for an entire generation of import car fans. The durable inline-six-cylinder engine could be modified to securely treat hundreds of extra horsepower, and the Supra became a sensation starring in 2001’s The Quick and the Furious. In two brief years—the Supra will comeback.
This time, instead of developing this all-new sports car on their own, Toyota will fucking partner with BMW and share parts with the upcoming BMW Z5. This is good news because BMW certainly has the expertise to build a fun-driving sports machine. Many are predicting that under the Supra’s fetish mask will be a choice of either a potent twin-turbo V6 or some type of hybrid powertrain. And many, including enthusiast websites, think the fresh car should carry forward some design themes introduced in the radical FT-1 Concept (pictured above). It’s been years since Toyota fans have had a real high-performance sports car, and this Supra should be as good to look at is it is to drive.
five 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan
Big, luxurious SUVs are predominant traffic in car dealerships these days. The Range Rover indeed began the high-end luxury SUV trend in the U.S. back in the later 1980s and had no competition for many years. But today just about every upscale brand has a vehicle to fit the needs of buyers looking for a roomy, high-riding machine. Rolls Royce, BMW’s ultra-luxury arm, has so far stuck to cars. And that was the case with the company’s archrival Bentley, too. But now Bentley has the six hundred hp Bentayga SUV. Rolls Royce will response with an SUV of their own in 2019, the Cullinan, and you can bet it will indulge with even more upscale features and perhaps even more power than the Bentley.
Reports suggest that the Cullinan will rail on an all-new platform specified expressly for Rolls Royce products. Translation? No need to compromise on the specs to appease less expensive BMWs. Prototypes of the massive machine show up to be enormous, perhaps larger than any luxury SUV this side of a Cadillac Escalade. And we can only guess the Cullinan will suggest V12 power under that table-top spandex hood. If the SUV sales trend proceeds for Rolls Royce, the Cullinan will not only become frantically popular in wealthy enclaves, but it will be the company’s best seller.
six 2019 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The original Jeep Wagoneer, one of the very very first SUVs, launched way back in 1963. Its lines were penned by legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens and lasted almost thirty years. In the 1980s, its name became Grand Wagoneer and almost every one was fitted with broad woodgrain paneling and trimmed in soft leather. It was an American luxury SUV whose only true competitor was the Range Rover. The last Wagoneer flipped off the assembly line in 1991, but today they are cherished amongst fans and guideline serious money in good condition. Since SUVs (both modern and old school) are thriving in popularity Jeep determined the time was right for a remake. So, a fresh Grand Wagoneer is planned to hit dealerships right around two thousand nineteen (however delays have been reported).
Judging by the size of the current Grand Cherokee, in order for Jeep to have an even larger, more capable SUV, the company would need to stir to a body-on-frame chassis or earnestly alter the next-generation Grand Cherokee platform. If Jeep goes the more capable route, it means borrowing a chassis from Ram. As a bonus, both the one thousand five hundred and two thousand five hundred series Ram pickups already use a comfortable-riding coil sprung rear suspension—perfect for an SUV.
A Ram one thousand five hundred pickup-based Grand Wagoneer would hypothetically have the size and luxury to challenge a Cadillac Escalade but mixed with Jeep off-road capability. No vehicle made by an American manufacturer meets those needs. The company’s efficient Ecodiesel V6 would make an excellent power plant. We’ll take one in Hunter Green with woodgrain paneling, please.
seven 2019 Chevy Silverado
The future is amazingly titillating for Chevrolet fans that like to go swift, with (eventually) a mid-engine Corvette on the horizon. But the vehicle platform that makes the most money for the brand rails underneath the bod of a pickup truck. The last major redesign of the light-duty fullsize Silverado pickup was back in 2014. However, much of that vehicles framework and suspension date back the two thousand seven model year. After a more than decade, it’s time for GM to up its game. The next all-new Silverado is due to hit showroom for 2019.
Ford may be married to petite turbo engines and aluminum, but GM is still making its trucks from steel and loading V8s into their noses. We suspect that the next Silverado (the one pictured above is the two thousand seventeen 2500hd) will have fairly a few bod panels formed from stamped aluminum but the beds will remain steel. And tho’ there might be a more economical small-displacement engine with a smaller cylinder count and turbo-charging, the majority of the trucks leaving the factory will likely use V8 power, and the next-gen small-block V8s should supply class-leading power and torque. Since those engines will be linked to the fresh 10-speed automatic GM has developed with Ford—these trucks should be quicker and more efficient, too.
eight 2019 Jaguar I-Pace
Seven years ago, Jaguar unveiled a plug-in hybrid concept supercar—the C-X75—and it was gorgeous. But as is the case with many concepts, the company determined not to build this slinky two-seater. In fact, Jaguar has yet to suggest a hybrid or electrical anything, and that means it’s well behind other European competitors, like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
That’s about to switch. Jaguar could skip right over hybrids and go for total electrification. Last year, Jaguar took the wraps off the I-Pace Concept electrical vehicle at the LA Auto Display and instantaneously said it would be on the road in 2018.
The I-Pace concept was a real stunner, and Jaguar has an excellent reputation translating the lines of concept vehicles directly to production without messing up the form. The production I-Pace will use an all-new electrical vehicle architecture suitable for sedans, crossovers, and perhaps even a sports car. The concept rails on a wheelbase several inches longer than the F-Pace (Jaguar’s current crossover) and is slightly narrower. The I-Pace concept uses a big ninety kWh battery which Jag says will supply more than two hundred twenty miles on a charge—and hit sixty mph in around four seconds. Sounds good to us.
nine 2019 Porsche Mission E
The specs and form of today’s Porsche nine hundred eleven harken back to some the brands earliest models. But the very very first Porsche wasn’t powered by a flat-six-cylinder engine or an engine at all. The very very first Porsche, built in 1898, was also electrified.
More recently (okay… way more recently) Porsche has embraced the technology once again and brought to market a plug-in electrified hybrid version of its Panamera sedan, Cayenne SUV, and created a gorgeously quick supercar, the nine hundred eighteen Spyder. However, each one of those still carried along an internal combustion engine. But Porsche has confirmed that an all-electric model based on the two thousand fifteen Mission E (pictured above), will soon reach production.
The production version of the Mission E will be extreme. After all it has to be in order to challenge with Tesla who already have a model that can reach sixty mph in less than three seconds. Porsche says the production four-door EV will produce around six hundred hp and have a range of three hundred miles. The company says the car’s 800-volt charger will be able to charge the lithium ion batteries within the car’s floor to eighty percent capacity in just fifteen minutes. That’s so quick it would be a game changer in the EV space.
Also, if the production version of the Mission E looks anything like the concept introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Showcase back in 2015, it will become one of the most desirable models in the company’s playbook.
ten 2019 Mid-Engine Corvette C8
Since the early 1970s, Chevrolet has been taunting sports car fans with the promise of a mid-engined Corvette. Every Corvette since the very very first in one thousand nine hundred fifty three has had its engine (a V8 since 1955) sitting in the nose of the car. The mid-engine location in sports cars helps centralize the mass in the center of chassis and create more balanced treating. That’s why sports car makers like Lamborghini have been using the design since the 1960s.
The mid-engine Corvette idea was one that always seemed to be coming in the next generation of the car, but GM has never pulled the trigger. Now, five decades later, we have confirmation of a mid-engine Corvette in the form of real prototypes. If these tests, and the reports pan out, America will have its very first mid-engine Vette in the two thousand nineteen model year.
The current Corvette is an incredible performer. But a mid-engine Corvette could vault Chevy’s sports car into a rarified group a sports machinery that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and yes, Ford’s shiny-new GT supercar. The facts about the powertrain are largely conjecture at this point, but it’s most likely safe to assume that a V8 will reside in that middle location. Since this C8-generation Corvette will use a fresh platform, it seems likely that it will be engineered to treat a hybrid or plug-in powertrain.
Our colleagues at Car and Driver and Road and Track are persuaded that the mid-engine Corvette will lose the option of a manual transmission. Yes, developing one transmission (a reported dual clutch) would save money and reduce complexity. But if Chevy does suggest a manual, it could be a selling point, as it would be the only supercar available with such a gearbox.
12 Future Cars That Are Worth the Wait
12 Future Cars That Are Worth the Wait
From efficient EVs to hyper-class sports cars and rugged retro-inspired SUVS, our automotive future looks exceptionally bright—and a lot of joy. Here are a dozen machines that we can’t wait to drive.
A dedicated car enthusiast leads a life of waiting. and waiting. and waiting, but fortunately there’s slew of vehicles in the next five years that are worth our saint-like patience. Many beloved models make a triumphant come back, electrified vehicles take center stage, and sports cars pack in even more innovation (and horsepower).
These are the twelve vehicles to be most excited about in the coming days, months, and years.
one 2018 Tesla Model Three
Tesla has built a serious reputation for delivering vehicles that just don’t go after the rules set by traditional automakers. Want a sleek-looking high-performance EV with room for five that can travel almost three hundred miles on a charge? Only Tesla makes such a vehicle—the Model S. Oh, and by the way Tesla has versions of the car that can hit sixty mph in three seconds or less. It’s a truly an excellent sports sedan that just happens to be electrical. The only drawback? It’s pricey. The most potent models can lightly exceed the six-figure threshold.
Tesla fans have been impatiently anticipating a more affordable model—the Model Three. In fact, its estimated that Tesla has more than 400,000 preorders for the fresh sedan.
The idea of a $35,000 Tesla is intoxicating. Elon musk has said the Model Three, the very first of which will arrive late this year (barring any delays) will have a range of more than two hundred fifteen miles inbetween charge-ups and hit sixty mph in around six seconds. The Model three prototype unveiled last spring was slick-looking with room for four, and a massive 15-inch iPad-like screen on the inwards substituting all the typical gauges. The future of Tesla is railing on this more affordable sedan. The company needs to draw more customers into the brand in big numbers. If Tesla can produce this car on time and exceed expectations of its potential owners, the Model three could be the most successful vehicle Tesla has ever produced.
two 2018 Land Rover Defender
The Land Rover Defender was a direct descendant of the one thousand nine hundred forty eight Land Rover Series I, England’s version of the Jeep CJ. Albeit the Series I, II, and III and later Defender models were used around the world, we haven’t had one on our shores for twenty years. Land Rover couldn’t adapt the rugged, naked bones Defender to meet modern U.S. safety regulations so it had to go. Since its departure, the prices of Defender models, which were sold in the U.S. from 1993-1997, have swelled to six figures and beyond.
So, it’s clear, the fair capability of the Defender resonates with today’s truck enthusiast. And fortunate for us, Land Rover will bring an all-new Defender to our shores in 2018.
The fresh Defender is likely to borrow some classic styling cues from past models but bring the design forward, too, and it will almost certainly look tougher than the weak-kneed DC one hundred Concept from two thousand eleven (pictured above). Under that skin will be the same chassis architecture used by the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and fresh Discovery. That means that unlike the Jeep Wrangler, the fresh Defender won’t have solid axles at each end. But hey, this is Land Rover so it should still be very capable.
Land Rover has said it will contain fresh parts, unrelated to its platform mates to improve capability. Regardless, the fresh Defender will almost certainly rail and treat far better on paved roads than any that has come before. So, it might end up being the best of all worlds.
three 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
In the 1960s and early 1970s, car enthusiasts were flooded with special versions of already potent musclecars designed to win street races and clean up at the local haul unwrap or road course. The cars were so tumultuous, they were hardly street-legal. The musclecar rebirth has brought back many modern-day versions of these titillating machines from the Ford Shelby GT five hundred and GT three hundred fifty to the Camaro ZL1 and Z/28.
Then Dodge launched the Challenger Hellcat with an eye-watering seven hundred seven hp and an 11.7 2nd run down the ¼ mile, according to our friends at Car and Driver who tested one back in 2015. But that wasn’t fairly good enough for Dodge. Next year, they will launch the Demon—an even more powerful Challenger designed expressly to drive straight to the haul de-robe and predominate.
Under the Demon’s bondage mask is a reported eight hundred hp version of the Hellcat’s V8. That’s astonishing. Dodge has also said that the Demon is over two hundred pounds lighter than the normal Hellcat. The spy photos of the Demon demonstrate it has a broader track and big flares covering those extra-sticky haul radial tires. So, with more power, less weight, and slew of grip, the Demon should be one of the quickest production cars to run the ¼-mile regardless of price. We’ll know more hard facts when the Demon is officially unveiled in April at the Fresh York Auto Display.
four 2019 Toyota Supra
The Supra was Toyota’s top spectacle car from the late 1970s until 1998. The Supra was originally a more powerful and more luxurious version of the Celica coupe. But by the 2nd generation, the Supra ultimately stood alone as a separate model and gained the option of a turbo. But it was the third-generation that gave the Supra its high-performance photo. The twin-turbo model launched in one thousand nine hundred ninety six made Corvette power (320 hp) and became the stuff of fantasies for an entire generation of import car fans. The durable inline-six-cylinder engine could be modified to securely treat hundreds of extra horsepower, and the Supra became a sensation starring in 2001’s The Quick and the Furious. In two brief years—the Supra will comeback.
This time, instead of developing this all-new sports car on their own, Toyota will playmate with BMW and share parts with the upcoming BMW Z5. This is good news because BMW certainly has the expertise to build a fun-driving sports machine. Many are predicting that under the Supra’s rubber hood will be a choice of either a potent twin-turbo V6 or some type of hybrid powertrain. And many, including enthusiast websites, think the fresh car should carry forward some design themes introduced in the radical FT-1 Concept (pictured above). It’s been years since Toyota fans have had a real high-performance sports car, and this Supra should be as good to look at is it is to drive.
five 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan
Big, luxurious SUVs are predominant traffic in car dealerships these days. The Range Rover truly began the high-end luxury SUV trend in the U.S. back in the later 1980s and had no competition for many years. But today just about every upscale brand has a vehicle to fit the needs of buyers looking for a roomy, high-riding machine. Rolls Royce, BMW’s ultra-luxury arm, has so far stuck to cars. And that was the case with the company’s archrival Bentley, too. But now Bentley has the six hundred hp Bentayga SUV. Rolls Royce will response with an SUV of their own in 2019, the Cullinan, and you can bet it will indulge with even more upscale features and perhaps even more power than the Bentley.
Reports suggest that the Cullinan will rail on an all-new platform specified expressly for Rolls Royce products. Translation? No need to compromise on the specs to appease less expensive BMWs. Prototypes of the massive machine show up to be enormous, perhaps larger than any luxury SUV this side of a Cadillac Escalade. And we can only guess the Cullinan will suggest V12 power under that table-top spandex hood. If the SUV sales trend proceeds for Rolls Royce, the Cullinan will not only become frantically popular in wealthy enclaves, but it will be the company’s best seller.
six 2019 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The original Jeep Wagoneer, one of the very very first SUVs, launched way back in 1963. Its lines were penned by legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens and lasted almost thirty years. In the 1980s, its name became Grand Wagoneer and almost every one was fitted with broad woodgrain paneling and trimmed in soft leather. It was an American luxury SUV whose only true competitor was the Range Rover. The last Wagoneer flipped off the assembly line in 1991, but today they are cherished amongst fans and guideline serious money in good condition. Since SUVs (both modern and old school) are thriving in popularity Jeep determined the time was right for a remake. So, a fresh Grand Wagoneer is planned to hit dealerships right around two thousand nineteen (however delays have been reported).
Judging by the size of the current Grand Cherokee, in order for Jeep to have an even larger, more capable SUV, the company would need to stir to a body-on-frame chassis or earnestly alter the next-generation Grand Cherokee platform. If Jeep goes the more capable route, it means borrowing a chassis from Ram. As a bonus, both the one thousand five hundred and two thousand five hundred series Ram pickups already use a comfortable-riding coil sprung rear suspension—perfect for an SUV.
A Ram one thousand five hundred pickup-based Grand Wagoneer would hypothetically have the size and luxury to challenge a Cadillac Escalade but mixed with Jeep off-road capability. No vehicle made by an American manufacturer meets those needs. The company’s efficient Ecodiesel V6 would make an excellent power plant. We’ll take one in Hunter Green with woodgrain paneling, please.
seven 2019 Chevy Silverado
The future is exceptionally arousing for Chevrolet fans that like to go rapid, with (ultimately) a mid-engine Corvette on the horizon. But the vehicle platform that makes the most money for the brand rails underneath the bod of a pickup truck. The last major redesign of the light-duty fullsize Silverado pickup was back in 2014. However, much of that vehicles framework and suspension date back the two thousand seven model year. After a more than decade, it’s time for GM to up its game. The next all-new Silverado is due to hit showroom for 2019.
Ford may be married to petite turbo engines and aluminum, but GM is still making its trucks from steel and loading V8s into their noses. We suspect that the next Silverado (the one pictured above is the two thousand seventeen 2500hd) will have fairly a few bod panels formed from stamped aluminum but the beds will remain steel. And tho’ there might be a more economical small-displacement engine with a smaller cylinder count and turbo-charging, the majority of the trucks leaving the factory will likely use V8 power, and the next-gen small-block V8s should supply class-leading power and torque. Since those engines will be linked to the fresh 10-speed automatic GM has developed with Ford—these trucks should be quicker and more efficient, too.
eight 2019 Jaguar I-Pace
Seven years ago, Jaguar unveiled a plug-in hybrid concept supercar—the C-X75—and it was gorgeous. But as is the case with many concepts, the company determined not to build this slinky two-seater. In fact, Jaguar has yet to suggest a hybrid or electrified anything, and that means it’s well behind other European competitors, like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
That’s about to switch. Jaguar could skip right over hybrids and go for utter electrification. Last year, Jaguar took the wraps off the I-Pace Concept electrical vehicle at the LA Auto Display and instantly said it would be on the road in 2018.
The I-Pace concept was a real stunner, and Jaguar has an excellent reputation translating the lines of concept vehicles directly to production without messing up the form. The production I-Pace will use an all-new electrical vehicle architecture suitable for sedans, crossovers, and perhaps even a sports car. The concept rails on a wheelbase several inches longer than the F-Pace (Jaguar’s current crossover) and is slightly narrower. The I-Pace concept uses a big ninety kWh battery which Jag says will produce more than two hundred twenty miles on a charge—and hit sixty mph in around four seconds. Sounds good to us.
nine 2019 Porsche Mission E
The specs and form of today’s Porsche nine hundred eleven harken back to some the brands earliest models. But the very very first Porsche wasn’t powered by a flat-six-cylinder engine or an engine at all. The very very first Porsche, built in 1898, was also electrified.
More recently (okay… way more recently) Porsche has embraced the technology once again and brought to market a plug-in electrical hybrid version of its Panamera sedan, Cayenne SUV, and created a gorgeously quick supercar, the nine hundred eighteen Spyder. However, each one of those still carried along an internal combustion engine. But Porsche has confirmed that an all-electric model based on the two thousand fifteen Mission E (pictured above), will soon reach production.
The production version of the Mission E will be extreme. After all it has to be in order to challenge with Tesla who already have a model that can reach sixty mph in less than three seconds. Porsche says the production four-door EV will produce around six hundred hp and have a range of three hundred miles. The company says the car’s 800-volt charger will be able to charge the lithium ion batteries within the car’s floor to eighty percent capacity in just fifteen minutes. That’s so quick it would be a game changer in the EV space.
Also, if the production version of the Mission E looks anything like the concept introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate back in 2015, it will become one of the most desirable models in the company’s playbook.
ten 2019 Mid-Engine Corvette C8
Since the early 1970s, Chevrolet has been taunting sports car fans with the promise of a mid-engined Corvette. Every Corvette since the very very first in one thousand nine hundred fifty three has had its engine (a V8 since 1955) sitting in the nose of the car. The mid-engine location in sports cars helps centralize the mass in the center of chassis and create more balanced treating. That’s why sports car makers like Lamborghini have been using the design since the 1960s.
The mid-engine Corvette idea was one that always seemed to be coming in the next generation of the car, but GM has never pulled the trigger. Now, five decades later, we have confirmation of a mid-engine Corvette in the form of real prototypes. If these tests, and the reports pan out, America will have its very first mid-engine Vette in the two thousand nineteen model year.
The current Corvette is an incredible performer. But a mid-engine Corvette could vault Chevy’s sports car into a rarified group a sports machinery that includes Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens, and yes, Ford’s shiny-new GT supercar. The facts about the powertrain are largely conjecture at this point, but it’s most likely safe to assume that a V8 will reside in that middle location. Since this C8-generation Corvette will use a fresh platform, it seems likely that it will be engineered to treat a hybrid or plug-in powertrain.
Our colleagues at Car and Driver and Road and Track are persuaded that the mid-engine Corvette will lose the option of a manual transmission. Yes, developing one transmission (a reported dual clutch) would save money and reduce complexity. But if Chevy does suggest a manual, it could be a selling point, as it would be the only supercar available with such a gearbox.