New Cars Coming in 2018
10 new models to look forward to this year
10. Alpine A110
Renault-owned Alpine has been dormant since before the millennium but it looks like 2018 will see the return and explosion of the illustrious sports-car maker. They will be returning to the market next year with the A110, a lightweight, 2-door coupé with a 249bhp 1.8litre turbo-petrol engine. The A110 will appeal to the French-coupé fans who were cut adrift following the discontinuation of the Peugeot RCZ, although the Alpine will likely demand a steeper price tag, but for a Cayman-rivalling coupé, it will be worth it...
9. Audi A6 e-Tron
Audi are looking to expand their e-Tron range to a wider audience than the as-good-as 70 grand Q7 e-Tron currently caters for. Don’t hold onto the ‘Q6’ tag though, because that would imply it is priced between a Q5 and a Q7, when in reality, this all-electric A6 e-Tron will be more expensive than both because the battery technology required to get over 300 miles from a single charge is, well, expensive.
The image above is purely a concept, expect images to be released of the final product early this year.
8. Bentley Continental GT
Finally! A new Bentley Continental! Let’s be honest, we’d all become rather bored of the outgoing model which has remained largely untouched for over 15 years. This new model is distinctly a new model, and not just a facelift. The smoothed-off rear end is more elegant while the front-end still boasts the same imperious road presence albeit in a prettier profile. Order books are already opened and one or two test cars have been spotted out on the streets of Kensington… naturally.
7. BMW 8 Series
Younger readers might see the name ‘8 series’ and assume an even bigger, even more luxurious limousine is on the way from BMW. The more experienced readers among us, however, will know what to expect. A 2 door coupé which is just as capable of smoothing out a long motorway slog as it is attacking the B-roads. A direct competitor for the S-Class coupé from Mercedes-Benz.
6. Ferrari Portofino
‘Ciao’ to the California T and ‘benvenuta’ to the Portofino, Ferrari’s latest convertible GT car. Powered by a front-mounted V8 petrol engine which powers the rear wheels, the Portofino follows an identity we’ve come to expect (and adore) from the Ferrari brand. This Portofino won’t be the fastest in the stable at Ferrari, not by a long shot, but 0-62mph will take 3.5 seconds and the top speed will be around about 200mph - so you probably wouldn’t turn your nose up at it.
Oh yes, and it’s absolutely gorgeous too, as you can see.
5. Ford Fiesta ST
With a new Fiesta follows a new Fiesta ST, something we can all get excited for in 2018. Yes, it’s nice to see new Ferraris and Bentleys being made, but neither will stir the innate boy-racer inside us all quite like a new Fiesta ST. What’s new with this one? Well, the engine is smaller. Down from 1.6-litres to 1.5. There’s also one-fewer cylinders under the hood. Well that’s a bad start, isn’t it? Nope. 3-pots are great fun to drive and the Fiesta ST will still be pushing just shy of 200bhp only with a lighter, more responsive and snortier engine.
4. Jaguar I-Pace
The I-Pace is going to be one of Jaguar’s most important cars ever. If it goes as planned it will thrust the JLR brand into the future and put them at the forefront of the all-electric market. What can we expect then? At least 300 miles of range, at most a 0-60 time of 4 seconds and, for good measure, about 400 horsepower. Plenty.
3. Renault Megane RS
Finally! After being teased with the Megane GT at the end of 2016, which was a warm version of the Megane, it looks like a properly hot version is finally en route. Expect a more refined drive from the RS, with more upmarket materials and an all-round improvement in terms of quality, but similarly, expect the same raucous driving characteristics. Engine size will be down from 2.0-litres to a 1.8 but power will still claim up to almost 280 horsepower. Ok, that horsepower figure lags behind the likes of the Golf R, Civic Type R and so on, but the 4-wheel-steering should offer a unique selling point that spirited drivers will struggle to ignore.
2. Lamborghini Urus
The world’s first Super-SUV. Powered by a big, twin-turbo, 4.0-litre V8 engine, the Urus is a car like no other. 0-60mph will take just 3.6 seconds and the car will go on to almost 200mph. Carbon ceramic brakes will be supplied with every Urus, to keep the bullish 650 horsepower contained. The price of all these mind-boggling figures? Starting from over £130,000…
1. Tesla Model 3
We couldn’t ignore what is probably going to be the most disruptive car of the year, could we? Tesla have apparently taken half a million deposits for the Model 3 already, it will be the most accessible car Tesla have ever made and will (hopefully) offer a genuinely competitive and realistic alternative to the petrol-powered hatchback market. 220 miles is rumoured to be the standard electric range, with 310 miles being made available with the long-range version.