The 8 Most Hotly Anticipated Cars Of 2016
Alfa Romeo Giulia
This is arguably the most important car Alfa Romeo has ever built. For decades the Italian manufacturer has built beautiful, lustworthy cars, but in recent years it has completely lost its mojo. The Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde might look great, but it’s seriously lacking as a proper driver’s car. The same could even be said of the drop-dead gorgeous 4C, though despite that car’s flaws, I can’t help but love it.
This new Giulia needs to be good. It has to rival the likes of the BMW 3-series and Mercedes C-class, so there’s no room for any weaknesses - charm will only get it so far. Alfa built the car with a dedicated skunkworks team, so if it’s rubbish there really could be no turning back for the much loved brand.
Ford Focus RS
The Ford Focus RS has been a staple of the European hot hatch scene ever since the first generation car burst onto the scene in a scrabble of torque steer in 2002. So the release of a new RS is a pretty big deal, however this new car is doubly exciting for ‘Muricans because it’s the first time the Focus RS will be sold across the pond.
The 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine makes 345bhp and feeds all four wheels. For those who want to get unruly, there’s even a ‘Drift Button’ that allows you to get the back end out. We can’t wait to get behind the wheel early next year…
Volvo S90
Arguably the smartest, classiest car in this list, the Volvo S90 is the Swedish manufacturer’s all-new luxury saloon. It’s the latest car built on Volvo’s modular platform, so the engines will likely be familiar from the XC90 range - that means a mix of petrol and diesel 2.0-litre four-pots. Most exciting of all is the fact that a Polestar version is also in the works.
Koenigsegg Regera
Christian von Koenigsegg is a man who likes to make an impact through ingenious design, and in the Regera we have perfect evidence of this fact. It has a big ol’ 5.0-litre V8, but gets electric motors in a first for Koenigsegg. Three of them, in fact. They combine for an astonishing 1700bhp, so it’ll be fascinating to see how drivable the car actually is.
The most fascinating aspect of the car, though, is the fact that it doesn’t have a gearbox. The car pulls away using the electric motors, with a hydraulic clutch bringing the engine into play as speed increases. And then there’s that fascinating rear wing. This thing is going to the best kind of bonkers.
Peugeot 308 R Hybrid
Peugeot’s found its groove again recently. After its peak with the likes of the 205 GTI decades ago, the company watered down its range to the point where even the most ardent fan must have been left craving more. Well, finally, it seems to be back on track. The 208 GTI was far from perfect, but a fine return to form, so we’ve got high hopes for the 308 R Hybrid.
It’ll almost certainly enter production, and hopefully with the same performance you’ll find in the concept: 500bhp via a 1.6-litre engine and two electric motors that power all four wheels. Four seconds from 0-62mph in a hot hatch? Yes please!
Jaguar F-Pace
It might be a surprise to see people are excited about an SUV, but for people who care about the industry, the F-Pace is an intriguing product. Jaguar is on fire at the moment, with the likes of the F-Type and XE S providing us with some exciting drives, as well as the latter holding up to rivals in ‘normal’ trim. The F-Pace promises to handle like a proper driver’s car, and if anyone can bring that to the SUV table, we reckon it’s Jaguar.
And would you just look at it; who knew an SUV could be genuinely gorgeous?
Toyota S-FR
This one hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the rumours are that it’s pretty much production ready. With funky styling and a lightweight frame, it makes the most of its 1.5-litre four-pot’s 130 or so bhp by being fun to drive rather than face-meltingly quick. At least that’s the theory - if it’s essentially a GT86-lite it should be a riot.
BMW M2
One of the most appealing aspects of the older BMW M3s, other than their stonking performance, was that they just felt like the perfect size of car. As time passed, though, the M3 started to grow, and now it’s a pretty huge car with almost unusable gobfuls of power. It’s why everyone loved the BMW 1M, and it’s why we’re all clamouring for the chance to drive this new M2.
The 3.0-litre inline-six makes 370bhp and can hit 62mph from zero in 4.3sec if you put a tick by the dual-clutch automatic gearbox option. Opt for the six-speed manual, and hopefully it’ll be a wonderful return to the old M3 recipe we used to adore.
Comments
The jaguar f-pace looks like the new volvo xc90 dont you think?
Yes, actually.
Sort of like a sleeker, sportier version of the XC90
It also kind of looks like a grown up F type too
F-Pace looks much better to me.
I think it kinda looks like a new xc60 inspired by Volvos new looks
not keen on the yoda or the pug but otherwise spot on
Ugh, you’re quick to hate on BMW X5’s and X6’s and now that Jag made an SUV all of a sudden you love it for the (subjective) looks. I hate how biased you are towards Jaguar. I don’t know if it’s patriotism or if they paid you but it’s not the first time and it pisses me off.
Something something YOUR USERNAME something something.
On a serious note, I’d like to think we’re very objective here at CT. Money will never change how we feel about a particular vehicle when we’re giving real buying advice.
Thats just because the F-Pace looks miles better than any BMW X-series.
At this point literally all we have to go on are looks and the other cars Jaguar is building at the moment. I am in no way patriotic towards Jaguar, I couldn’t care less that they’re British. In fact, it’s only recently that Jag has started making cars that interest me - I think 99% of its older cars are ugly, boring yachts for people who have lived off mummy and daddy’s money for too long. Except the E-Type, I drove one of those and fell in love.
As for the F-Pace, I love the way it looks, so why wouldn’t I say so? When you come to CT you come for our staff and writers’ differing opinions - in fact half the office seem to own and love BMWs, so don’t know why you think we’re down on the brand! Personally they don’t interest me, but different strokes for different blokes, right? As for SUVs, I love Porsche’s Macan and Volvo XC90, so this isn’t a sudden change of heart about SUVs.
Finally, if there’s one thing that’ll NEVER happen at CT, it’s taking money to give positive reviews. There’s literally no point in it for us. The short term cash wouldn’t be worth it for the distrust it would cause in you guys.
I’m sorry, but the Toyota actually looks like a fish, just the same way the Spyker did.
9- My car
Same here man, same here.
Bugatti Chiron.
Bugatti: HERE IS 1500 HP FASTEST HYPERCA…
Koenigsegg: here, have a Regera R
i think a Reagera R would be absolutely uselessly fast. Knowing Koenigsegg it’ll probably end up with 2000+ Horsepower and enough lb/fts of torque to scare a Volvo FH16 750 into submission. As much as we’d all love that to happen you can’t help but think that every other manufacturer would die a bit inside realizing what they’re up against, i mean they still haven’t recovered from The Agera R, the Agera RS and the One:1. Talk about a 4500+ Devel and we laugh, talk about a 2000+ Koenigsegg and i think we’d all be cowering in absolute terror.
A regera R would be completly bonkers! It would make sense however, since the regera is supposed to be quite luxurious and user friendly. I doubt it would need more power, but maybe strip down the luxury and make it more track focused :)
911 r ??
What a time to be alive in the car world. After such a big absence from the past decade, there’s so many desirable cars coming out that are new, revivals, and ones that display incredibly advanced technology.
What about the Honda Half-Life-Three?
Can’t wait for the M2 and Focus RS