Global preview: all the best new cars coming soon

The world is in shell-shock, slowly recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The automotive industry has been hard hit, with production lines halted and dealerships across the world temporarily closed – but with some never to reopen as demand for cars falls and costs are cut.

But the car world keeps turning, and plenty of exciting new models are heading to our roads, albeit some delayed. There are over 50 new models scheduled to come out in 2020 alone and there’s something for absolutely everyone.

If it’s an electric car you’re looking for, there are several in the pipeline. Or, how about a 600bhp SUV that seats seven adults? Or an electric-powered super-limo from Mercedes-Benz?

Here’s our comprehensive guide to the new cars manufacturers will release to the world in 2020 and beyond, which we’re illustrating in many cases with our exclusive artist impressions of what we think the new cars will look like, together with spyshots. The date noted is the date we believe the vehicle will first be available to drive away from a dealership, though all are subject to change because of the current situation:

SUMMER 2020: Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

The convertible variant of the Aston Martin Vantage will arrive in time for spring. It will look just like its fixed-roof sibling with the exception of a power-retractable canvas top and it will sound like it as well. Both versions of the Vantage will share an AMG-sourced, 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbocharged to 503bhp. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: BMW 4 Series

The all-new, second-generation BMW 4 Series is on its way, and features that 'controversial' huge front end first seen on the preview concept car in 2019. Once again, the 3 Series-related machine will be available in two-door, four-seat coupé, convertible and four-door Gran Coupé forms. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Volkswagen ID 3

This, Volkswagen claims, is its most important car since the original Golf. The first to be built on the new electric MEB platform, it spearheads a huge EV push that will see almost every major vehicle category feature an electric Volkswagen. Our first test of the new car last week suggests it’s a credible EV contender – and a truly good hatchback regardless of powertrain. It will be priced from £27,500 (after the £3500 government grant) in the UK - about the same as smaller rivals.

A range of between 249 and 373 miles is promised, depending on which battery pack you choose. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Audi A3 Sportback

Audi's sibling to the new Volkswagen Golf sports new underpinnings, a high tech interior, a mild-hybrid engine option and RS-inspired exterior styling. The five-door hatchback will come with a range of engine options including petrol, mild-hybrid petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid. Inside, the minimalism of the current A3 makes way for a digital instrument display and a large touchscreen. Audi has also promised improved ride and handling qualities. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Honda E

The E is the new five door electric car from Honda. Built on Honda’s new bespoke electric car platform, energy will be supplied to a single motor by a high-density, lightweight battery pack, with a stylish high tech interior.

At entry-level the E has 134bhp and promises a single-charge range of around 136 miles. It’ll be priced around £27,000 (after £3500 government grant) in the UK. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Vauxhall/Opel Corsa-e

The electric version of Vauxhall’s reinvented Corsa takes on the Renault Zoe with a 211-mile range and 0-31mph time of 3.1sec. Prices for the five-door EV start from £26,790 in the UK, making it a direct competitor for entry-level variants of Volkswagen’s new ID 3, with first customer deliveries set to take place in early 2020.PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Lexus LC 500 Convertible

Lexus will step up its offensive against Mercedes-Benz and BMW when it releases the convertible variant of the LC in the summer of 2020. The Japanese company’s alternative to the drop-top variants of the S-Class and the 8 Series will launch with a 465bhp, 5.0-litre V8 engine but we believe the V6 hybrid powertrain already offered on the coupe will be available later.

Making the LC Convertible was more difficult than simply chopping off the roof panel; Lexus notably redesigned the rear suspension to keep weight in check. All told, the Convertible is merely 99kg heavier than the coupe it’s based on, which is remarkable considering the work involved. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

Mercedes-Benz’s biggest SUV will get AMG’s corporate V8 engine halfway through 2020. Unveiled at the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, the GLS 63  boasts 603bhp from a mild-hybrid twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre eight and it can seat seven adults in relative comfort. This behemoth exits AMG’s workshop with the ability to reach 62mph from a stop in 4.2sec, which is shockingly quick for such a huge machine.

AMG will drop the same V8 in to the smaller GLE SUV. It’s scheduled to go on sale as the same time as the GLS. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Mercedes-Benz GLA

The Mercedes-Benz GLA will return for a second generation in the summer of 2020. It’s slightly shorter than its predecessor, which is unusual in an era when cars grow every time they’re renewed, and it’s also taller to offer passengers more headroom while looking more like an SUV. The familiar-looking sheet metal covers up the same front-wheel drive platform found under other Mercedes-badged compacts like the A-Class, the second-generation CLA and the seven-seater GLB.

The launch line-up comprises the front-drive GLA 200, with a 161bhp 1.3-litre three-cylinder engine, and the hot Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, with a 302bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre unit. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Ferrari SF90 Stradale

The SF90 Stradale will be the most powerful and fastest-accelerating road car Ferrari has ever produced. It will also be first series-production plug-in hybrid Ferrari.

The heart of the car is Ferrari’s award-winning ‘F154’ twin-turbocharged 769bhp V8, bored out from the 3902cc of the 488 Pista to 3990cc. Engineers claim a complete redesign, including new combustion, intake and exhaust systems, while a narrow cylinder head, with a Ferrari V8 first in a new 350-bar direct injection system, features. Its electric motor boosts overall power to 986bhp, and enables 16 miles of electric-only range. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Polestar 2

Volvo off-shoot Polestar will release the 2, its answer to the Tesla Model 3, about halfway through 2020. Made in China, the 2 is an electric family car with the proportions of a sedan and the ground clearance of an SUV. It’s almost a follow-up to the short-lived Volvo S60 Cross Country. Polestar has previously quoted a 311-mile driving range and 402bhp from a pair of electric motors.

While the CMA platform it’s built on can underpin petrol-powered cars, like Volvo’s XC40, Polestar has no plans to offer the 2 with anything other than an electric powertrain. In tune with the times, it will be sold online only. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Aston Martin DBX

The DBX is Aston Martin’s first entry into the lucrative SUV segment and it’s sorely needed after the company seeks recovery from a disastrous IPO that saw its value collapse 90%, slow sales, and the recent departure of CEO Andy Palmer. We drove a prototype recently and first signs are positive.

The DBX looks like the Aston Martin of the SUV world and it should accelerate like it thanks to a 542bhp evolution of the AMG-sourced V8 that powers the Vantage, among other models. It was designed to be used as a daily driver so buyers can even order an optional pet pack that includes a bumper mat to protect the paint from scratches and a portable washer so your dog won’t get mud on the leather. PICTURE: Actual car

SUMMER 2020: Audi E-tron Sportback

The electric E-Tron’s swoopier sibling wears the Sportback nameplate, which is par for the course when it comes to the Audi line-up. The two models share nearly everything under the sheet metal, including a 95kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a pair of electric motors, but the Sportback stands out with a fastback-like roof line that positions it as a rival to the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. Motorists can expect to achieve about 270 miles of range in normal driving conditions. PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: Nissan X-Trail

Nissan stylists walked a fine line as they redesigned the X-Trail. It’s one of the best-selling models in the United States (where it’s known as the Nissan Rogue) and it’s also in one of the market’s most competitive segments, so there’s no room for mistakes and no time for do-overs. It looks like the next-generation model due in showrooms in late 2020 gets a more daring design that falls in line with other additions to the Nissan range, like the second-generation Juke, but its overall proportions don’t change. We expect the hybrid model axed for the 2020 model year will make a comeback.

The interior will receive a digital makeover. The infotainment system’s screen is bigger than the one in the current model and Nissan will make a digital, driver-configurable instrument cluster available. PICTURE: Nissan Rogue (Actual car)

LATE 2020: Mercedes-Benz EQA

The new EQA compact EV crossover (rendered right) promises a 249-mile single-charge range and pricing broadly competitive with the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and upcoming Volkswagen ID 3. It was due to be built at an upgraded Smart factory in France, but that plan has changed. It will be followed up by a SUV model named EQB (rendered left). PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

LATE 2020: Mercedes-AMG One

A star of the 2017 Frankfurt motor show in concept form (pictured), we should see the production version of this race-car-for-the-road by the end of 2020. The Formula 1-derived 1.6-litre V6 will produce more than 1000bhp, although the specific figure is yet to be confirmed. 

Despite the car’s price of approximately £2.4 million, AMG received 1100 requests from credible customers for the 275 units that will be built.

LATE 2020: Ford Bronco

The recent unveil of the Bronco has been one of the biggest news events in the car world of 2020 – and a much needed shot in the arm for an industry battered by Covid-19. The new Bronco marks the arrival of a new lifestyle brand for Ford, initially encompassing a full size (with two or four doors), and a smaller four door Sport model (covered in next slide).

The full fat body-on-frame Ranger-based Bronco is squarely targeted at the Jeep Wrangler. It has plenty of design nods to the original ‘60s model, complete with removable doors. No V8 is available – entry level power is a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 266bhp and 310lb ft of torque. Power-lovers are also offered a 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 delivering 306bhp and 400lb ft of torque. The V6 is only driven via a 10-speed automatic transmission, but in another retro nod the smaller engine is offered with an available six-plus-one-speed manual. This is six forward gears together with a single ultra-low-speed crawler gear available in either high or low range for when the going gets rough. Four-wheel drive is standard throughout. Pricing starts at $29,995 in America. The tough SUV war is on.

LATE 2020: Ford Bronco Sport

While the larger full-fat Bronco is aimed at the Jeep Wrangler, the smaller Sport model targets the Cherokee and Compass, also from Jeep. Despite its macho image, the Sport is based on the bones of the distinctly more suburban Ford Escape SUV, though the Sport is 203mm shorter.

Standard power will be 1.5-litre ecoboost three-cylinder delivering 179bhp and 190lb ft of torque, while there will also be a 2.0-litre turbocharged 237bhp four-cylinder. Both are driven through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and four wheel drive is standard. In America, the Sport starts at $28,155 – no word yet on what other markets it will sell in, though Europe is certainly looking doubtful right now.

LATE 2020: F-150

Ford took the wraps off its new-generation 2021 F-150 in June. The design may be an evolution, but there are many new features. It offers the option of a full hybrid system, enabling power to come from electricity, gasoline, or both. The hybrid can tow 5455kg, with a single-tank range of around 680 miles.

There’s a whole bunch of added practicality. The bed houses various external power options enabling quite a range of items to be run from the truck at the same time, while the front seats recline almost completely flat. The gear shift folds out of the way to make a flat surface for using a laptop or munching a McDonald’s from (see inset pictures). It’ll go on sale in the autumn.

LATE 2020: Ford Mustang Mach-E

Years in the making, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E shares nothing more than a name and a handful of styling cues with the two-door sports car introduced in 1964. We’re told its chassis was tuned with performance and handling in mind, and we felt it was composed through a slalom course in spite of its hefty weight after riding shotgun in one in Los Angeles recently.

The Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s answer to the Tesla Model Y and it was developed as an electric car from the ground up. Buyers will be asked to choose between rear- and all-wheel drive, a standard- or a long-range battery pack, and anywhere between 254bhp and 459bhp depending on the configuration. Driving range varies from 210 to 300 miles. Company chairman Bill Ford assured us in 2019 that it will ‘go like hell.’ PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: Hyundai Tucson

Tucson sales have sky-rocketed in most markets in recent years in most markets. Hyundai will try keeping the momentum going with a new, more stylish model improved in every way. Designers took the front end in a bolder direction but they didn’t make significant changes to the model’s proportions. It should still stand out as one of the roomier models in its competitive set.

Expect a nicer interior with more tech features and new engine options to round out the changes coming. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

LATE 2020: Jeep Grand Cherokee

The current, fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will pass the torch to its successor shortly after celebrating its 10th birthday in 2020. It will move away from the Mercedes-Benz ML-sourced platform legacy of the DaimlerChrysler days and instead ride on a bigger version of FCA’s Giorgio architecture that underpins the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, among others. The change will make it bigger (and correspondingly roomier) in every direction.

The next Grand Cherokee will be one of the first cars to use FCA’s upcoming turbocharged straight-six engine. It will rely on a 48-volt mild hybrid system to keep fuel economy in check. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

LATE 2020: Kia Sorento

Spotted towing a BMW X5 through the Alps, the next Kia Sorento will cater to buyers who need three rows of seats in a package smaller than the vast US market Kia Telluride. It will follow the rest of the Kia range’s shift towards more stylish exteriors and interiors that rival luxury brands in build quality. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

LATE 2020: Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600

Mercedes-Maybach has turned the seven-seater GLS into a palace on wheels with space for four or five passengers. While it was primarily developed for the Chinese market, where chauffeur-driven commuters love the Maybach brand, it will make its debut in most major markets in 2020.

In the past, the 600 nameplate has denoted a powerful V12. That’s no longer the case; the heavily chromed grille hides the familiar twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8 found in a growing number of models. It makes 550bhp in this application. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but it won’t be cheap. PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: Rivian R1T

For a while, everyone assumed Tesla would become the first carmaker to offer a full-size electric pickup. Rivian emerged from stealth mode in 2018 and announced plans to beat its California-based rival to the punch with battery-powered truck that looks ready for adventure. The R1T concept will allegedly reach production with only minor visual and powertrain changes. The specification sheet lists up to 400 miles of range and at least 700 horsepower in the truck’s most expensive configuration.

Rivian can talk the talk; time will tell if it can walk the walk. It’s planning to simultaneously build the R1T and a similar SUV named R1S in a former Mitsubishi factory it purchased in Illinois starting in late 2020. It’s counting on major investments from Ford and Amazon to ramp up production, though Ford recently cancelled plans for a Lincoln SUV EV based on Rivian’s platform. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

LATE 2020: Rolls-Royce Ghost

Although this prototype is fully covered by camouflage, it’s obvious that it will take a well-trained eye to tell the next-generation Rolls-Royce Ghost apart from its predecessor. Due out in late 2020, the model will look like a Rolls-Royce, it will accelerate like one and it will ride like one but its handling might surprise you.

The British company is spending time on the Nürburgring to make the next Ghost sportier. It’s not giving up comfort but it sees performance as the key to attracting younger buyers. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

LATE 2020: Volkswagen ID.4

The ID.4 will be the second model Volkswagen builds on the modular MEB architecture it developed specifically to underpin electric cars. This Tiguan-sized people-mover was loosely previewed by the 2017 ID Crozz concept but it will arrive in showrooms with a boxier, more SUV-like roof line that clears up additional space for people and gears inside. Expect rear- and all-wheel drive variants to be available when it reaches showrooms in late 2020.

And, while ID.4 production will begin in Germany, Volkswagen will also build the EV in its Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory starting in 2022 for the US market. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression, Autocar spy shot (inset)

LATE 2020: Volkswagen Golf R

The new Golf Mk8 is hitting the road in most places right now, but we still await to see what the Golf GTi variant will look like. But we do know that the all-wheel drive R model will make a comeback. Our latest spyshot gives us a great idea what it will look like when it reaches showrooms in late 2020.

While we think the standard R will get a 320bhp engine, we also believe there will be a R Plus model as well, delivering up to 400bhp – both from just 2.0-litre turbocharged engines, targeting the 415bhp Mercedes-AMG A45 S. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

LATE 2020: Fiat 500e

Fiat has unveiled the hatchback version of the new electric 500, which is now available to order in the UK priced from £26,995. Both it and the convertible version will initially be offered with a high-spec ‘La Prima’ special edition, with lower-price versions set to follow.

The 500 hatchback features a 42kWh battery to offer a WLTP-certified range of up to 199 miles, and is fitted with a 85kW fast charging system that can give an 80% charge in 35 minutes. The £26,995 price – after the government’s plug-in car grant – also includes the installation of a 7.4kW easyWallbox charger. By comparison, the similarly specced convertible costs £29,000. PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: BMW iX3

The BMW iX3 will be fashionably late to the electric SUV segment when it makes its debut halfway through 2020. It’s the German company’s answer to the Audi E-Tron, the Jaguar I-Pace and the Mercedes-Benz EQC. Unlike its rivals, however, BMW chose not to start from scratch.

The iX3 will be an electric version of the X3 with a handful of powertrain-specific design cues. We believe a 70kWh battery pack will offer a range of 280 miles - slightly more than the Audi E-tron - and permanent four-wheel drive. PICTURE: actual car

LATE 2020: Ferrari Roma

Ferrari hopes to reach new customers with the Roma, a 612bhp coupe characterized by a design that puts a greater emphasis on elegance than on performance. It’s less aggressive to look at than most of Ferrari’s other models and Autocar has learned it will also be less aggressive to drive. In fact, the company describes it as “a Ferrari for people scared of driving a Ferrari.” It shares underpinnings with the Portofino convertible.

It features a 612bhp 3.9-litre V8 delivered through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic; top speed is at least 199mph, with 0-62mph achieved in 3.4 seconds. PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: McLaren Elva

Demand for McLaren’s limited-edition models continues to rise and the British company is more than happy to give enthusiasts what they want. Limited to 399 units worldwide, the Elva is named after a British manufacturer that teamed up with McLaren in the 1960s.

It offers drivers rear-wheel drive, 804bhp from a twin-turbocharged V8 and the bug-in-your-teeth experience that comes with driving a car not fitted with a windscreen. A 0-124mph time of 6.7sec makes it quicker than McLaren’s Senna. Yours for £1.4 million ($1.75m). PICTURE: Actual car

LATE 2020: Kia Sedona

Kia’s MPV is sold in the US under the Sedona name and known as the Carnival in Korea and certain other places. Its new 2021 generation takes on chunkier SUV-style design themes while also ushering in a much more high-tech, upmarket interior. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

LATE 2020: Ram Rebel TRX

FCA is not about to leave the uber-truck market to the F-150 Raptor alone. It will soon launch the 2021 Ram Rebel TRX pickup truck, a supercharged Hellcat-powered competitor to the Ford which we spotted out in March. The camouflage is heavy, but the bulging, muscle-bound nature of Ram’s Raptor-fighter is evident.

Hearty suspension mechanicals can be seen underneath the body, along with large skid plates guarding the entire truck’s underbelly. Our photographer reported the vehicle made a loud V8 roar upon acceleration. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

LATE 2020: Dodge Charger Hellcat Red Eye Widebody

Back in March we spotted a pair of of Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody prototypes with heavily camouflaged bonnets, testing on public roads in Michigan. It seems the Charger will be joining Challenger, and getting the range-topping Hellcat Red Eye treatment.  

The new model will coincide with the Charger’s expected 2021 model year refresh, the Charger SRT Hellcat Red Eye would share the Red Eye Challenger’s Supercharged 6.2-liter V8, and its 786bhp and 707lb ft of torque, along with all of its other performance upgrades. The Hellcat engine has been a great success for FCA since it arrived in 2015; 40,000 cars have been sold with it, and it will get through new emissions regulations for MY 2022, apart from in the Durango. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

LATE 2020: Nissan Qashqai/Rogue Sport

We believe the latest Nissan Qashqai will be unveiled in September 2020 in advance of deliveries at the end of the year, and we spotted it out testing a few days ago (pictured inset). We expect the car will incorporate Nissan’s latest design language as recently seen on the second-generation Juke compact SUV.  We also expect overhauled infotainment and a new heavily digital dashboard. The platform for the new car will however be based on the current model’s ‘CMF’ underpinnings.

The company is keen to renew its ageing line-up at a time when it is seeking to resolve its relationship with global partner Renault and move on from the media spectacle around former CEO Carlos Ghosn. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

2021: Chevrolet Bolt EUV

Early in 2021 we’ll get the chance to buy GM’s new compact EV crossover, sister car to the upcoming Bolt. The EUV features a large windscreen and expansive side windows which should ensure an airy cabin and good visibility for driver and passengers.  The cars’ based on GM’s new BEV2 platform, and because it’s larger and heavier than the Bolt we expect a range less than that car’s promised 259 miles.

The EUV will also get Super Cruise Level 2 autonomous operation, the first GM car to get the tech outside Cadillac. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2021: Jaguar XJ

The previous, conventionally powered, XJ left production in July 2019, but a new all-electric limousine we reckon will be unveiled before the end of the year. The examples we’ve spotted out testing are heavily camouflaged, but we can see that among its defining features are a heavily raked roofline, a short rear deck, all-new light designs and a lengthy rear overhang.

The front end hasn't been captured in detail, but it looks like the new XJ will sport a similar trapezoidal grille design to its I-Pace stablemate, while its long bonnet and high waistline aren't unlike those of the outgoing XJ. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression, spyshot

2021: Audi RS3

The new A3 is heading into showrooms very soon, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the RS3 variant, which we spied at the Nürburgring in April. It’ll feature a turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine delivering 394bhp, making it only slightly less powerful than the new Mercedes-AMG A45 S. As with the outgoing model, it’ll be available in hatchback form (mainly available only in European markets) or as a saloon (pictured). PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2021: Porsche 911 GT3 (992)

Porsche has been testing the upcoming 992-generation 911 GT3 at the Nürburgring for a while now, and we recently snapped it. Details are scant at present, but we do know the 911 Speedster’s heavily revised 4.0-litre flat-six engine will be carried over to future GT models as Porsche’s GT division persists with naturally aspirated engines, unlike the turbocharged units used in the rest of the 911 lineup. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2021: Alfa Romeo Tonale

The Tonale concept that Alfa Romeo presented at the 2019 Geneva motor show is already on its way to production. Images covertly taken during a design presentation suggest its front-end styling has evolved since its introduction but its proportions and its dimensions have stayed the same.

It will be positioned below the Stelvio as Alfa Romeo’s smallest SUV and it will become the entry point into its global range once the Giulietta finally retires. Expect nothing bigger than a four-cylinder under the bonnet. PICTURE: Preview concept car

2021: Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The C-Class has been redesigned from the ground up, with highly efficient new hybrid drivetrains and advanced autonomous driving technology set to be some of its key draws. Having seen a drop in C-Class sales recently because of the SUV trend, the German maker is providing the fifth-generation model with many of the developments being readied for the forthcoming regeneration of the S-Class.

The new C-Class, codenamed W206, will challenge the recently facelifted Audi A4 and new BMW 3 Series when it arrives in UK showrooms in 2021. Insiders suggest its autonomous driving functions will include hands-off driving at speeds of up to 81mph. PICTURE: Autocar spy shot

2021: BMW M3

BMW is remaining silent about the next generation M3 but it’s a difficult car to keep under wraps. We’ve seen a photo of it undisguised in what looks like a testing facility (pictured) and insiders suggest the model will receive an updated version of BMW’s latest 3.0-litre straight-six engine turbocharged to about 500bhp.

Rumours pointed to all-wheel drive and/or some form of electrification but it sounds like BMW has decided not to add either in order to save weight. Rear-wheel drive it is, then. Transmission options will include an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic and an enthusiast-approved six-speed manual. PICTURE: Spy shot

2021: Jaguar J-Pace

The new Jaguar J-Pace will be larger and more upmarket than the existing F-Pace and I-Pace SUVs. The J-Pace is also expected to be offered as a pure EV and is unlikely to be made public until early 2021. It will be derived from the forthcoming XJ replacement (as mentioned earlier), which will also be powered only by electric power. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression

2021: Maserati Alfieri

After being delayed, the Alfieri sports car was supposed to herald a reluanch of Maserati at the 2020 Geneva motor show. We believe this will now take place in September 2020.

The powertrain options on the Alfieri will include an electric version, which will use a tri-motor, four-wheel drive system with torque vectoring and 800V battery technology, and a plug-in hybrid. PICTURE: Preview concept

2021: BMW i4

The i4 will be the next all-new launch from BMW’s i brand. The i4 will be an all-electric ‘notchback’. It was recently previewed in concept form, which we believe is pretty close to how the model will look in production form. We recently spotted it getting juiced up (pictured). We understand it will have 523bhp and reportedly have a range of as much as 373 miles.

2021: ‘Road Rover’

Land Rover heads to new horizons with a more car-like Land Rover. A vehicle we dub the ‘Road Rover’ will probably wear a Range Rover badge in production. It will also be the firm’s first purely battery electric vehicle.

It will have an allroad-style estate body and deliver a capable, rather than outstanding, off-road performance. Its sister cars will be the Jaguar XJ limousine and J-Pace SUV. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression

2021: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

We spotted this next-generation car out testing recently and were intrigued to see it contained a giant Tesla-style touch-screen control screen instead of the usual button-strewn S-Class dash (pictured inset). We also expect the new S-Class to offer a range of plugin hybrid powertrain options, along with conventional powertrains.

The spyshots suggest an evolutionary design over the current model, though we understand it will only be available in long-wheelbase form of around 5280mm, driven in part by the fact that the E-Class saloon is now 4920mm long. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2021: Jeep Wrangler Hybrid

Jeep has announced aggressive plans to become “the greenest, most sustainable SUV company in the world.” The company showcased plug-in hybrid versions of its Renegade, Compass and Wrangler models, all badged 4xe, at the 2020 CES show, and has spent the winter testing them in Sweden. It looks like the new models will have an electric-only range of around 31 miles. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression of Wrangler hybrid

2021: Mercedes-Benz EQS

Jaguar Land Rover and Tesla aren’t going to have the luxury EV market to themselves. Unveiled as a preview concept at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2019 (pictured), we’ll see this new Mercedes available to buy in 2021. It’s designed to attract new customers to the brand, rather than eco-refugees from the S-Class. We spotted it out testing over the winter in Scandinavia (pictured inset). 

470bhp is said to be on tap, rapid 0-62mph acceleration of 4.5 seconds, 400+ miles single-charge range, and 350kW recharging to 80% capacity in just 20 minutes. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

2021: Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Hot on the heels of the new S-Class will come a new super-luxury Maybach variant. We spotted it recently being somewhat incongruously thrown around the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2021: Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer

Jeep will position the born-again Grand Wagoneer above the Grand Cherokee as its range-topping model. While concrete details are few and far between, we’re nearly certain it will borrow a frame from the Ram 1500 pickup and top it with a body that could share some styling cues with the original Grand Wagoneer. Our exclusive rendering sheds light on what it might look like. Don’t expect the wood paneling to come back but it’s so iconic that stylists might create a modern interpretation of it and make it available on some trim levels.

Jeep will also offer a cheaper (and possibly slightly smaller) variant of the Grand Wagoneer badged Wagoneer. While range-topping trims might indeed knock on the Range Rover’s door, more mundane variants will compete against the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Ford Expedition. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

MID 2021: Audi E-tron GT

The GT will be the third Audi Ev after the E-tron and E-tron Sportback, and is sister car to the Porsche Taycan which went on the market in late 2019. This sleek A7-sized car will be the EV flagship of the Audi range, and should have a single-charge range of 248 miles. Capable of 350kW charging, 80% of battery capacity could be delivered in just 20 minutes.

The GT’s 96kWh battery takes up the entire underfloor area between the front and rear axles, giving the car a centre of gravity comparable to the R8. Bank on seeing it at the 2020 Los Angeles auto show, in November. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

MID 2021: BMW iNext

BMW will follow up the X3 sized IX3 with a larger X5-sized model, currently named iNext, that we suspect may be launched as the IX5 to give greater coherence to its EV naming conventions. It’s said to be the first BMW where the driver is expected to do much less actual driving, loaded as it is with autonomous technology. Sharing a platform with the i4, reckon on a range of around 370 miles. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression, Autocar spyshot (inset)

MID 2021: Ineos Grenadier

Jim Ratcliffe, the boss of British chemicals giant Ineos, identified a need for a back-to-basics 4x4 after the Land Rover Defender left production in 2016. And as Britain’s richest man he has the means to make his idea reality.  Our spyshots suggest a resemblance to the original Mercedes G-Class crossed with the Defender, while we understand it will have an old-school ladder frame chassis; it is very much a 4X4, not a SUV, the company has observed.

Power will come from BMW 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, and will be built at a new plant in Bridgend in South Wales, with input from contract manufacturer specialist Magna Steyr. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

MID 2021: Chevrolet Corvette (C8) - RHD

The Chevrolet Corvette entered its eighth generation after undergoing a radical redesign that turned it into a low-slung, mid-engined two-seater with supercar-like specs and a shockingly affordable price tag. The 483bhp, V8-powered Corvette Stingray was delayed by a strike but Chevrolet intends that the car will be available officially in right-hand drive form for the first time ever. It may be sold in an another large RHD market, Australia, though the forthcoming shuttering of GM’s Aussie arm Holden may complicate that.

In the UK, a highly-specified launch edition will cost £81,700 in coupe form, or £87,110 – this model includes magnetic ride control and bespoke design details.  This blue –collar supercar will hit 62mph in under three seconds from rest even with the standard engine. Faster versions will appear later. PICTURE: Actual car

MID 2021: Chevrolet Corvette (C8) Z06

Hot on the heels of the new mid-engined Corvette, we should get a new Z06 high-performance variant and you may well be looking at it. We spotted the car out testing over the winter and it featured larger and wider tyres, both Z06 hallmarks. We estimate power will come from a 5.5-litre V8 delivering over 600bhp, against 483bhp of the standard model, and a screaming redline as high as 9000rpm.

MID 2021: Land Rover Defender V8

While the new Defender is rolling into dealerships across the world right now, we recently spotted a new hot petrol V8-powered variant with quad tailpipes out testing on the autobahn. Another development vehicle we spotted in the UK had registration data suggesting it featured a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that already features in the Range Rover Sport SVR and Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography.

But the Ford factory that makes that engine in South Wales is being shut down, so we believe the V8 – of 4.4 litres in size - will come from new JLR partner BMW. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

MID 2021: Ferrari SF90 Spider

The SF90 will go on sale shortly, but it’ll be another year or so before the droptop variant arrives. The mule seen here wears extensive camouflage, but tell-tale clues as to its SF90 underpinnings are its cab-forward stance, C-shape headlights and centrally mounted tailpipes. The relocation of the radio antenna from the roof to the rear deck is a sure sign that this is the Spider variant. 

Like the coupe, this new car gets a 986bhp hybrid powertrain that combines Ferrari’s trademark twin-turbocharged V8 with a trio of electric motors for four-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of 2.5sec. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

MID 2021: Nissan 400Z

Nissan’s 370Z has been on sale since 2009 but we gather we’ll see a replacement unveiled in the next 12 months. We have heard that some US dealers have already seen the new car – to be called 400Z – and they relate seeing a 240Z-inspired nose with 300ZX-inspired tail lights. As it is unlikely to be a volume seller, expect a platform probably from Infiniti’s Q50 and Q60 and a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine from the latter car. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

EARLY 2022: Tesla Model Y

Tesla will expand its range of electric cars with a crossover named Model Y built using Model 3 components. It’s taller than the 3 it’s based on so it’s more spacious inside but the two cars share most parts in the cabin, including the giant dashboard-mounted touchscreen. Its maximum driving range will vary from up to 230 miles in the base model to about 300 in the long-range variant.

Model Y deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2020 in America, but it will be a while before it arrives in the UK and many other places. PICTURE: Actual car

2022: Ford Mustang

Mustang purists may have to look away now. Not only will the next Mustang get optional hybrid power, but our study of Ford patent applications suggest it will also get four-wheel drive, with electric motors powering the front wheels and a conventional V8 powering the rears. The current Mustang model might have got this setup this year, but Ford CEO Jim Hackett, who arrived in 2017, redirected resources at the Mustang Mach-E EV project instead.

Design-wise, we expect an evolution. After all, the model carries decades of heritage that can’t be ignored but it nonetheless needs to comply with new safety and emissions regulations. Stylists need to strike a balance between retro and a design that will age gracefully into the early 2030s. Our rendering gives you an idea of our thinking of how it will look.

2022: Range Rover Mk5

The next-generation Range Rover is intended to eclipse a new era of luxury rivals which have launched in its class since the luxury SUV’s last major model change in 2012. It will use a new architecture, delivering major weight saving, though its size will be similar. An evolutionary design is expected, but don’t expect an electric version at launch.

We spotted a test mule out testing over the winter (pictured inset); we gather the new Range Rover will feature a 4.4-litre V8 from JLR’s new friends at BMW, since the 5.0-litre engine currently being used will become unavailable when the Ford engine plant at Bridgend in Wales closes in 2020. We reckon we’ll see the new model arrive at the end of 2021 or 2022. It’ll be based on JLR’s new MLA platform. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

2022: Ferrari SUV

Codenamed Purosangue, Ferrari claims its new SUV will redefine the luxury SUV class. Based on a unique platform, Ferrari claims it will offer Ferrari-performance combined with space, comfort and practicality of an SUV. What the power options will be is open to question, though both V6s and V12s have been suggested.

Key competitors include the likes of the new Aston Martin DBX SUV, though reckon on a rather higher sticker price. PICTURE: Autocar artist impression

2022: Small Jeep

A new small Jeep model to sit below the Renegade has recently been confirmed by the company. The compact-sized Jeep will launch by 2022 and will become the entry point into the Jeep range. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression

2022: Lotus SUV

Even the famed British maker of lightweight sports cars can’t ignore the SUV trend. Luckily in China’s Geely it has an owner to make it happen. We expect the car will be based on the SPA platform as used on the XC60 and XC90 models from sister company Volvo, and to have a hybrid option. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression

2022: Mercedes-Benz GLC

We recently spotted the second-generation GLC-Class SUV out testing in Germany. It looks somewhat larger than the current model and, with its smaller GLB sibling offering a 7-seat offering, we wouldn’t be surprised if this new model did too. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2022: Honda Civic Type-R

We recently spotted the next Type-R out testing in Germany, and it doesn't appear radically different from its predecessor externally. We believe it’ll feature a hybrid powertrain as part of Honda’s plan to electrify its whole range by 2025. While the current Type-R is built in Swindon in the UK, that plant is being shut down in 2021, and it’s not clear where this new model will be built. PICTURE: Autocar spyshot

2022: BMW M2, BMW M2 GRAN COUPE

Enthusiasts will be pleased to hear BMW has given the go-ahead for a new rear-wheel-drive M2 performance coupé (rendered left), as part of a future compact M car line-up that will include a four-wheel-drive M2 Gran Coupé (rendered right) and a new hot 1 Series with more than 400bhp.

The second-generation M2 coupé, which has the internal codename G87, is scheduled to go on sale in 2022. It will bring with it a detuned version of BMW M’s latest six-cylinder petrol engine, sourced from the soon-to-be-revealed new M3 and M4 and the recently launched X3 M and X4 M. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression

2023: Volkswagen Ruggdzz

Volkswagen is planning a tough new EV SUV, which exists under the working name as Ruggdzz, which draws on the word ‘rugged.’ It will complement the company’s forthcoming new ID.4 crossover EV. It will become part of a 30-strong SUV line-up from the Volkswagen brand by the middle of the decade, including China market models not sold elsewhere. PICTURE: Autocar Artist impression