Best new cars for 2016
Here's what we're looking forward to in 2016 from the world's top car manufacturers
One thing is very clear at the moment: the car industry is looking great in 2016. From cheeky city cars and outrageous hypercars to new hybrids and all-electric SUVs, manufacturers have been busy prepping the models you want most - so we've put together a list of the best new cars
for 2016.
for 2016.
While some of these top new 2016 cars focus on delivering the best
driving thrills and push the boundaries in terms of design, most offer
something new in the shape of connectivity and making the daily commute
that little bit more pleasurable.
To keep you up to speed with what’s on the horizon, we’ve compiled this must-read page that showcases the best new cars destined for your local showroom in 2016.
destined for your local showroom in 2016.
So, if you’re in the market to buy a new car, don’t set
foot in a dealership until you’ve read our rundown of the best cars for
2016...
The best new cars coming in 2016
Abarth 500X
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Price £22,000 (est), On sale Winter 2016
Fiat’s cheeky ad saw a 500
grow into a crossover after ‘swallowing’ a little blue pill. Well, now
tuning arm Abarth is set to pump the 500X up further, creating a 200bhp
rival to the Nissan Juke Nismo RS and MINI Countryman JCW, and our exclusive image shows how it could look.
Yet the Abarth 500X would get far more than just a flash bodykit, as it’s likely to use the Alfa Romeo 4C’s 1.75-litre turbo. That would mean 0-62mph in less than seven seconds with an extremely fruity soundtrack to match.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
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Price £24,000 (est), On sale September 2016
Alfa Romeo has been absent from the compact executive market for the
past four years, and it’s been a less glamorous place as a result. While
the brand’s last attempt at a BMW 3 Series beater was the sharp-suited 159, the new Giulia revives a classic Alfa name and uses sensuous looks in a bid to win sales.
Unusually, bosses revealed the hottest model first – the wraps came off the BMW M3-rivalling
4WD QV, with its 503bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbo, this year – but the range
will include smaller-engined versions and numerous trim levels to battle
the likes of the 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi’s new A4 and the Jaguar XE.
There’ll be a range of efficient diesels and turbo petrols to appeal
to company buyers, and most Giulias will be rear-wheel drive to compete
with rivals for thrills. The platform will also underpin Alfa’s new SUV.
Aston Martin DB11
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Price £170,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
It’s been a long time coming, but the beautiful DB9 – a car at the heart of the Aston Martin range – will be replaced by the DB11,
which is set to arrive in late 2016. Under the bonnet should be a
development of the existing Ford-built 6.0-litre V12, possibly
turbocharged for added power and better efficiency.
The DB11 – illustrated here in our exclusive image – could also be
available with a V8 engine. The likely candidate will be Mercedes-AMG’s
latest 4.0-litre twin-turbo, taking advantage of Aston’s relationship
with Daimler (the German company has a five per cent stake).
Plus, the interior could share components with Mercedes, with Auto
Express spy shots showing a range of buttons and infotainment system
from the S-Class. The DB11 will be the first in a new range of Astons, including an all-electric Rapide and DBX crossover.
Audi A5
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Price £30,000 (est), On sale Sept 2016
Audi will follow up its all-new A4
with a new A5 using the same platform. As our spy shot shows, it will
be far more rakish and, as before, come first as a two-door coupé, then
later as a more practical five-door Sportback.
As well as being lower and wider than the A4, it will be lighter and
more efficient than the car it replaces, plus far more refined. The
lower-powered 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI version will emit less than 100g/km
of CO2 – and this in a coupé likely to set new quality benchmarks in the
class.
Plus:
Audi S4 Price £40,000 (est) On sale Early 2016
Audi Q5 Price £32,000 (est) On sale Summer 2016
Audi Q1 Price £17,000 (est) On sale September 2016
Audi Q5 Price £32,000 (est) On sale Summer 2016
Audi Q1 Price £17,000 (est) On sale September 2016
Bentley Bentayga
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Price £160,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
Bentley has been threatening to enter the luxury SUV market for years, but the EXP 9 F concept revealed in 2012 was poorly received. The better-looking final product, badged Bentayga,
will finally hit dealers early in 2016, priced from £160,000, with the
brand aiming to make it the fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive
SUV in the world.
Bentley’s familiar 6.0-litre W12 engine will deliver 600bhp and 900Nm
of torque, enabling it to get from 0-62mph in four seconds and top
nearly 190mph. With those figures, the Bentayga will accelerate as
quickly as a Porsche Cayenne
Turbo S, but a claimed 22.1mpg and 292g/km of CO2 mean it’ll be costly
to run. In time there will be a higher-powered Speed version, as well as
more economical diesel and hybrid models.
Plus:
Bentley Grand Convertible Price £300,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
BMW 5 Series
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Price £32,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
With the current 5 Series
still at the top of the class, the new model seems to have come around
quickly. But 2016 will see it arrive with improved efficiency, a
cutting- edge chassis and connectivity, and a sleeker profile.
The tech includes a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) body similar to that used in the i3
to keep weight down but improve strength and safety, and a plug-in
hybrid drivetrain that will see a 530e model surpass 100mpg.
Three-cylinder petrol engines will also feature.
BMW M2
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Price £44,070, On sale April 2016
The eagerly awaited successor to the 1 Series M Coupé is almost with us, offering a rapid, slightly smaller and cheaper alternative to the M4. As our picture shows, it adds some muscle to the familiar 2 Series body.
Unlike the 1M, though, the M2 will be available with manual and
automatic gearboxes. Under the bonnet lies an uprated version of the
M235i’s turbo straight-six engine, but with 370bhp. That means 0-60mph
takes 4.5 seconds for the manual and 4.3 seconds for the auto.
Plus:
BMW i8 Plus Price £150,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
BMW 330e Price £35,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
BMW X4 M40i Price £55,000, On sale Late 2016
BMW M4 GTS Price £122,500 (est), On sale March 2016
BMW 330e Price £35,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
BMW X4 M40i Price £55,000, On sale Late 2016
BMW M4 GTS Price £122,500 (est), On sale March 2016
Dacia Duster
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Price £9,000 (est), On sale March 2016
Unusually, the Dacia Duster facelift was revealed in 2013 but went on sale only in left-hand-drive European markets. From 2016, though, we’ll get a cleaned-up Duster in the UK, benefiting from smart-looking daytime running lights housed in an altogether neater, tidier-looking grille.
Refinement will be improved with the introduction of a new 123bhp
1.2-litre turbo petrol, which even in the 4x4 Duster will approach
50mpg. A welcome and classy makeover for the French-Romanian budget SUV.
Fiat Tipo
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Price £15,000 (est), On sale Sept 2016
Fiat will once again compete with the likes of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra with its new compact hatch, which sees the return of the Tipo badge to the UK.
Previewed by the Agea concept – a name the saloon version will wear
only in Turkey – it’s due in September of next year, and will be
available as a spacious five-door and a more practical estate.
The model should come with 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engines, and Fiat
is likely to offer 1.3 and 1.6-litre diesels, too. Fiat will be
pitching it at the lower end of the hatchback segment, so expect prices
from £15,000.
Ford Edge
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Price £30,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
The Euro-spec Edge finally broke cover at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show. It’s based on the new Mondeo and will sit above the EcoSport and Kuga SUVs in Ford’s current model range.
It’s designed as a cut-price alternative to cars like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5,
and will major on space and practicality, with five seats and a big
boot. Much of its dashboard and interior design is borrowed from the
Mondeo, with tech such as inflatable seatbelts and Active Noise
Cancellation carried over, too.
It’ll launch with a pair of 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engines, with
either 188bhp or 207bhp. The latter is only available with a six-speed
auto gearbox, while the entry-level car makes do with a manual. Trim
levels range from Trend, through Sport and Titanium – with 80 per cent
of buyers expected to opt for the range-topping model.
Plus:
Honda NSX
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Price £120,000, On sale Late 2016
On one side of Honda’s production range is the zero emissions FCV; on the other is the Ferrari-baiting NSX supercar.
Development has been protracted – the original came in 1995 and this
replacement arrives next year after being announced in 2007 – but the
wait will be worthwhile.
The car combines a petrol V6 and three electric motors to deliver
550bhp via a twin-clutch gearbox, and promises physics-defying handling.
Yet fuel economy will be on par with that of a diesel family hatchback.
Everyone’s a winner.
Plus:
Honda FCV Price £30,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Hyundai i20 Active
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Price £13,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
The rugged new Hyundai i20 Active is
set to land in dealers next year, commanding a small premium over the
standard hatch on which it’s based. Billed as a rival for the Dacia Sandero Stepway, the i20 Active is already on sale in India, where it’s badged the i20 Cross.
As with the Dacia, it isn’t available with four-wheel drive, although
it does benefit from a raised ride height, beefier bumpers and chunky
side skirts. It’ll carry over the line-up of petrol and diesel engines
from the standard supermini, including the upcoming 1.0-litre
turbocharged three-cylinder.
The concept seen at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show was
a five-door, and we don’t expect a three-door i20 Active Coupé any time
soon. Still, if SEAT’s Leon Sport Cross concept is anything to go by,
there may still be a market for sleeker three-door crossover hatchbacks.
Plus:
Hyundai i30 N Price £25,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Infiniti QX30
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Price £27,500, On sale Spring 2016
We’re yet to see the production version of Infiniti’s QX30 crossover,
although the covers have been pulled from the Q30 hatchback on which
it’s based. That car was revealed in full at the recent Frankfurt Motor
Show, and it goes on sale towards the end of the year.
While the Q30 will rival BMW’s ever-popular 1 Series and the Audi A3, the QX30 is expected to take the fight to the new BMW X1 and established Audi Q3.
It’s essentially a jacked-up version of the Q30, with sharp creases and
high haunches paired with raised suspension for an elevated driving
position.
Engines and trims are likely to mirror the hatchback’s, with a range
of Mercedes-sourced petrol and diesel options. In fact, the Q30 and QX30
share their underpinnings with the A-Class and GLA – both of which have been on sale in the UK for more than 18 months.
Plus:
Infiniti Q60 Price £38,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Jaguar F-Pace
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Price £34,170, On sale April 2016
The Jaguar F-Pace
was finally revealed in September to an open-mouthed crowd at a
Frankfurt race course. It performed a crazy loop-the-loop stunt in front
of stunned onlookers, before taking a starring role on Jaguar’s
Frankfurt Motor Show stand.
The first cars will arrive in dealers in April, and there will a
choice of 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, as well as a less
powerful 2.0 diesel emitting as little as 129g/km of CO2. It’s Jaguar’s
first SUV, and could even spawn a smaller model in 2017.
Buyers can spec their F-Pace with rear or four-wheel drive as well as
manual or automatic gearboxes. The rear-driven manual is the most
economical version, returning 57.7mpg, while the flagship supercharged
V6 shares its engine with the storming F-Type.
Plus:
Jaguar F-type SVR
Price £100,000 (est), On sale Sept 2016
Price £100,000 (est), On sale Sept 2016
Kia Hybrid
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Price £18,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
With a growing number of manufacturers making increasingly economical
hybrids, Kia is the latest to jump on the bandwagon. Its contender,
illustrated in our exclusive image, is due next year, and rather than
just fit a hybrid drivetrain to an existing model, the Korean firm will
go down the same route as the Toyota Prius by making a standalone model
known for its eco credentials.
But unlike the Prius, Kia’s hybrid will be a stylish compact
crossover – a wise move, given that it’s the fastest growing market
segment in Europe. With around 60mpg from a 1.6-litre petrol motor and
electric engine, it won’t be the most efficient hybrid available, but
should be reasonably priced.
Kia Sportage
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Price £18,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
The current Sportage was a styling revelation for Kia, and the next-generation model will
be more of the same. Proportions will be unchanged, but details like
its bold ‘tiger nose’ grille, striking LED headlamps, daytime running
lights and rear light signatures make it really stand out.
Kia says the Sportage will offer more refinement and better cabin
quality than any car the brand has ever produced, and the recent
Frankfurt Motor Show star certainly confirmed the latter – soft-touch
surfaces and a large, classy touchscreen dominated the dashboard.
Plus:
Kia Sportspace
Price £22,000 (est), On sale September 2016
Price £22,000 (est), On sale September 2016
Lamborghini Huracan Spyder
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Price £190k (est), On sale Spring 2016
Taking the roof off the Lamborghini Huracán was only ever going to bring stunning results...
As with the Gallardo Spyder it replaces, the Huracán uses
a folding fabric roof rather than a complex metal arrangement to save
weight. At the touch of a button, the roof stows behind the driver in 17
seconds at speeds of up to 31mph.
What remains unchanged over the coupé is the howling 602bhp 5.2-litre
V10 engine and four-wheel-drive set-up. Due to the extra weight needed
for strengthening, the Spyder takes two-tenths longer to get from
0-62mph, posting a sprint time of 3.4 seconds, but it can still hit
200mph with the roof down.
It will also feature Lamborghini’s cylinder-on-demand technology,
which shuts down five of the 10 cylinders on partial throttle to help
conserve fuel. The Spyder is likely to cost around £10,000 more than the
coupé, which starts at £180,720.
Plus:
Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster Price £350,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
Land Rover Discovery 5
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Price £45,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
With the current Discovery
4 basically a facelift of 2004’s Discovery 3, next year’s all-new
Discovery 5 is overdue. It’ll veer close to Range Rover territory for
comfort, quality and refinement, but will major on family practicality,
offering even more storage and convenience flourishes than today.
Growing in every way, yet becoming more efficient with
diesel-electric hybrids a possibility, the seven-seater will remain
exceptional off-road – aided by real-time adaptive transmission and
suspension settings based on the surface.
Lexus LF-C2
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Price £40,000 (est), On sale Autumn 2016
The 2014 LA Motor Show saw the debut of the roofless LF-C2
– and it really was roofless, with no folding hood in sight, fabric or
otherwise. Nevertheless, the concept showed the look of an RC
convertible, which would take on the Audi A5 Cabriolet and drop-top BMW 4 Series.
Very pretty it is, too, and likely to be frugal, with power coming from a petrol-electric hybrid set-up that does 66mpg in the IS 300h saloon. There’ll be an RC F version as well, set to cost £70,000 and powered by the same 5.0-litre V8.
Plus:
Lexus RX Price £39,995, On sale January 2016
Maserati Levante
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Price £40,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
The Maserati Levante will soon be the most exotic SUV this side of the Lamborghini Urus, giving potential Jaguar F-Pace and Porsche Cayenne customers something to think about.
Set to debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, it will sit somewhere
between those two rivals in size and price, with power ranging from a
247bhp diesel to a 400bhp petrol V8. The Levante could also house a
petrol-electric hybrid from 2017, offering the best of both worlds: the
performance of the V8 with 50mpg average economy.
McLaren 540C
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Price £126,000, On sale Early 2016
The 540C will
become the cheapest car McLaren has ever produced when it launches
early next year. Part of the new Sports Series range, the 540C will sit
below the more powerful 570S in the line-up and go up against the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo.
It’s powered by the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 you’ll find in the
650S and P1, but has been detuned to produce 533bhp. McLaren claims that
makes it good for a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of
199mph.
To separate the 540C from the 570S, the entry-level model gets a
revised aero pack and 20-inch alloys. The dampers have also been retuned
to deliver a softer and more comfortable ride, but remain adjustable
and offer the driver the option to switch between Normal, Sport and
Track modes when desired.
Mercedes E-Class
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Price £35,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Mercedes’ seventh-generation E-Class will adopt the more fluid styling of the latest C-Class saloon and much of the luxury and technology of the S-Class limousine.
Driver assistance features are set to include intelligent cruise
control that brakes, accelerates and follows bends on the motorway. The
enhanced COMAND infotainment system will be more intuitive and, of
course, there’ll be a hybrid.
Plus:
Mercedes GLC Coupe Price £35,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Mercedes-AMG GT Black Price £130,000 (est), On sale Winter 2016
Mercedes-AMG GT Black Price £130,000 (est), On sale Winter 2016
MG GS
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Price £18,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
If MG’s renaissance is to succeed, what better way of helping it along than with a trendy Qashqai-sized crossover? The MG GS, unveiled in China and coming to the UK, is just the model the brand needs.
To boost the SUV-shaped car’s appeal, MG has made it one of the
bigger crossovers, putting it more in line with the Honda CR-V for
interior space – but with a much lower asking price. Economy won’t be
the best in the business, though, with MG’s 1.8-litre diesel rated
around the 50mpg average mark.
Mitsubishi Shogun
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Price £28,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
The 10-year-old Mitsubishi Shogun is feeling ancient now, and there’s
been an explosion in demand for upmarket 4x4s during its lifespan. So,
2016’s model will be less utilitarian, with better refinement and road
manners. Still, the current car’s off-road prowess will remain.
The GC-PHEV concept
from 2013 hinted at how the new Shogun could look – and it may be
joined by a stylish Shogun Sport, a rebadged version of the Pajero Sport
model which was recently unveiled in Thailand.
Nissan Pulsar Nismo
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Price £23,000 (est), On sale Mid 2016
Nissan’s official racing arm Nismo will breathe some life into the conventional Pulsar hatch next year to make it a true Ford Focus ST rival. Initially seen as a concept at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the Pulsar Nismo will arrive within the next 12 months priced from around £23,000 – undercutting most of its main rivals.
The Nismo treatment’s certainly injected some excitement into the
otherwise rather humdrum-looking hatch. A deep front bumper with a red
splitter gives a far more aggressive look, mirrored at the back with
gaping air intakes, a diffuser and two centrally mounted exhausts.
Under the bonnet, Nismo’s extracted 247bhp from Nissan’s 1.6-litre
four-cylinder petrol engine, while a limited-slip diff and retuned
suspension set-up will also be added to help contain the power upgrade.
There’s also talk of a Nismo RS with as much as 275bhp.
Plus:
Nissan Micra Price £11,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Peugeot 308 R Hybrid
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Price £35,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Peugeot will up the ante in the hot hatch market with the new 308 R Hybrid. Using the familiar 267bhp 1.6-litre turbo from the 308 GTi,
the R Hybrid takes it a step further by supplementing power with two
114bhp electric motors. The result is a 493bhp plug-in hybrid mega hatch
that will get from 0-62mph in less than four seconds.
It’s been developed by the brand’s motorsport arm, Peugeot Sport,
with the front and rear tracks of the 308 widened by 80mm. Plus, beefier
brakes have been added, and to ensure all of that power is transmitted
to the road, it’s been converted to all-wheel drive.
Four driving modes, made up of ZEV, Road, Track and Hot Lap, serve up
varying degrees of performance. In its most extreme setting – normally
reserved for track driving – the 308 R Hybrid develops the full 493bhp
and 730Nm of torque. However, as it’s a plug-in hybrid, it emits only
70g/km of CO2. It can even be driven on electric power alone.
Porsche Panamera
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Price £65,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
It won’t be hard for Porsche to make the next Panamera
more attractive. Our spies have caught the car on test, and designers
will craft a more coherent, sharp-edged look – and if the Mission E concept is a guide, it will be stunning.
Inside, the dash will be decluttered, while the engines will be
tweaked to offer more power and efficiency. Expect a 280bhp 3.0-litre V6
diesel at one end and a 580bhp twin-turbo V8 at the other, as well as a
plug-in hybrid.
Range Rover Evoque Convertible
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Price £40,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
We’ve known about Land Rover’s plans to bring back a soft-top for a while, and the Range Rover Evoque Convertible
will arrive next year. Unlike the Freelander’s fabric roof, it’ll get a
full-length electric top, and will occupy a trendier, more premium
market position.
However, the brand hasn’t forgotten its roots, as the cabrio should
be every bit as capable off-road as the hard-top Evoque. It’ll even have
a clever Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) that won’t pop up errantly
in extreme off-road situations. Under the skin it’ll use the new
Ingenium diesel and (for now) the Ford-sourced turbo petrols. Cost?
Expect this image-led cabrio to kick off from around £40,000.
Renault Megane
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Price £16,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
The best-selling Ford Focus will have a fight on its hands in 2016. As well as the new Vauxhall Astra, Renault’s new Mégane will hit showrooms with a bold new look and a more upmarket cabin.
With Renault’s new family face and striking C-shaped LED lights, it
certainly cuts a dash among the current mainstream hatchback offerings.
It’s also lower, wider and longer than before, with a more purposeful
stance.
Among the highlights inside the Mégane is a large portrait-style
touchscreen, which dominates the dashboard. The new model will launch
with a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, while the
flagship offering is a 202bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine in sporty GT
spec. Renaultsport will get a chance to show off what it can do with
the Mégane in 2017, with a scorching new hot hatch to take on the
Peugeot 308 GTi.
Plus:
Renault Megane RS Price £26,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Renault Alpine Price £50,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Renault Twingo GT Price £14,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Renault Alaskan Price £18,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
Renault Alpine Price £50,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Renault Twingo GT Price £14,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Renault Alaskan Price £18,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
Rolls-Royce Dawn
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Price £250,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
With a fair bit of controversy surrounding Rolls’ upcoming first SUV, the British luxury marque has taken the opportunity to showcase its traditional talents in the form of the Dawn.
Essentially a Drophead convertible version of the Wraith, it revives a name from the brand’s illustrious history. The Dawn
has been designed to major on comfort and pure elegance, and Rolls
claims it’s the most refined convertible in the world. At the rear,
you’ll find traditional open-pore wood decking, similar to that on some
of the world’s priciest speedboats.
It shares the highly regarded 6.6-litre turbocharged V12 with the
Wraith, as well as much of its underpinnings. But opulence and open-air
luxury at this level don’t come cheap: we’re expecting a starting price
of around £250,000, with the cost soaring even higher if you trouble the
bespoke design team.
Skoda 7-seater SUV
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Price £23,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
The Yeti’s popularity has given Skoda confidence to press on with a bigger seven-seater – revealed in our exclusive image – as it eyes 1.5 million global sales by 2018. A rival to the likes of the Hyundai’s Santa Fe, the newcomer will be one of the most keenly priced seven-seaters on sale.
The usual range of 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel engines will power the
‘Yeti Plus’, alongside a 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol. And as with the
standard Yeti, Skoda’s seven-seater will handle with tenacity yet boast
formidable off-road ability.
SEAT Leon Cross Sport
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Price £30,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
While we wait for SEAT’s proper SUV range to develop, the Spanish brand has whetted our appetite with a crossover version of the three-door Leon Cupra. Called the Cross Sport,
it really is a Jack of all trades, with the VW Golf R powertrain
underneath pumping 296bhp through all four wheels and a DSG auto box. It
races from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds – the same time as the Golf and a
second faster than the standard Cupra. It even gets a trick electronic
diff to control the power.
A 41mm raised ride height and rugged styling additions will help it
tackle rough tracks, while the Cupra’s stylish three-door shape, a
bright colour scheme and 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels mean it stands
out from the crowd. It’s only a concept for now, but Auto Express
understands there is a huge amount of enthusiasm within the company for
the project to get the green light. A production version could be
powered by the show model’s 296bhp engine or by a more wallet-friendly
2.0-litre diesel.
Smart ForTwo Cabrio
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Price £12,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
Over two generations, Smart’s ForTwo Cabrio
has gained a considerable following, with over 220,000 sold globally.
The new version gets a three-layer fabric roof to keep wind and road
noise out of the cabin, and it operates electrically in just 12 seconds –
but more impressively, and unusually, at speeds up to 96mph. As per the
coupé, a manual gearbox is available for the first time ever, and the
car serves up either 70bhp from a 1.0-litre or 89bhp from a 0.9 turbo –
at least until the hot Brabus arrives.
Plus:
Smart ForTwo Brabus Price £15,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Suzuki Baleno
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Price £12,000, On sale Summer 2016
Suzuki already has a few small cars in its showrooms, so next year’s revival of the forgotten Baleno badge
– which was last used in Europe way back in 2002 – might initially seem
slightly confusing. However, the supermini that debuted at the recent
Frankfurt Motor Show will offer more cabin space than the Swift and a
bigger boot – in fact it will be one of the most practical cars in its
class, according to Suzuki.
Power will come from a brand new 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo
engine with 110bhp. Labelled Boosterjet, it emits just 103g/km of CO2
and will soon appear right across Suzuki’s range. There’ll be a hybrid
Baleno soon, too.
Tesla Model X
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Price £50,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
Electric car pioneer Tesla has dominated the battery-powered saloon
market for some time with the Model S, yet SUVs have remained reliant on
petrol or diesel – until now.
Step forward the Model X.
Originally touted for release early this year but set to hit showrooms
in 2016, the sleek SUV has the sort of performance stats you’d expect
from a Tesla P90D: 762bhp, 967Nm of torque, a 0-60mph time of 3.2 seconds and a 250-mile range.
Visually, it takes cues from the Model S
in a taller, more imposing body. The most dramatic feature is the wild
‘falcon wing’ top-hinged rear doors that open upwards, and even have
magic hinges for easy operation in tight spaces. Like the Model S,
you’ll have the option of seven seats, but they will be forward-facing
and full size. The car will square up to the Audi Q6 that’s due to hit the market approximately a year later.
Toyota Prius
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Price £25,000 (est), On sale Spring 2016
The car that pretty much got the ball rolling for the hybrid revolution, the Prius has since been overshadowed by fashionable plug-ins and range extenders such as the BMW i3. But this all-new model, on sale in early 2016, hopes to win round buyers and claims to “establish new benchmarks in fuel economy”.
The angular styling might not be to all tastes, but the all-new
modular platform underneath will spawn a host of new Toyotas in future.
The Prius will still come with a 1.8-litre petrol engine and an electric
motor and CVT transmission, but economy could surge to as much as 90mpg
and CO2 emissions are likely to be around 70g/km.
The electric motor will also be mounted at the rear, creating an
‘e-4WD’ system to boost grip in wet conditions. A new Prius Plug-in will
also debut with slightly different styling, increasing the electric
only range to 15.5 miles.
Plus:
Toyota C-HR Price £15,000 (est), On sale Summer 2016
Vauxhall Zafira
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Price £22,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Daddy Cool is too cool for an MPV these days, which is why Vauxhall will replace the Zafira people carrier with an SUV. It’s a ‘me too’ approach responding to the success of the Nissan Qashqai and rivals, but why not?
The spacious SUV, revealed in Opel guise in our exclusive image, will
be built in partnership with PSA Peugeot-Citroen, which will reduce
costs through parts sharing. It’ll be more refined than any Vauxhall SUV
before it, with power coming from the latest ‘Whisper’ diesel engines.
Plus:
Vauxhall Astra GSi Price £22,000, On sale Early 2016
Volkswagen Tiguan
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Price £23,000 (est), On sale Early 2016
VW has let its Tiguan compact SUV age gracefully, but with new competition like the Mazda CX-5
and Renault Kadjar, the car had started to look a little old hat. The
new model sits on the MQB architecture, which is quickly being rolled
out across the VW Group’s latest models.
This means the new Tiguan
is 60mm longer than the outgoing car, but it’s also 33mm lower – giving
it a more purposeful appearance. Engines include 1.4 and 2.0-litre
petrols, 2.0-litre diesels and a plug-in hybrid GTE version.
Plus:
Volkswagen Golf R400 Price £38,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
Volvo S90
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Price £35,000 (est), On sale Late 2016
An S80 replacement is long overdue, and our spies have caught Volvo’s new BMW 5 Series rival ahead of its world debut next year. Inspired by the brilliant XC90, it’ll be as safe, spacious and comfortable as any model from the brand, but will add minimalistic class and lots of tech.
Dominating the chic cabin will be a large portrait-style touchscreen,
with D4 and D5 turbodiesels providing the power – the former good for
99g/km of CO2. A T8 plug-in hybrid will cut that to 50g/km, but with far
superior pace.
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