2018 will be an exciting year for the automotive industry around the world as automakers line up new models for the new year. Some cars will be entirely new while others will be redesigned from existing models. Automakers such as Toyota, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Audi, and Ford have already lined up models for the new year. Car enthusiasts and petrolheads will wait with undying expectation and anticipation. The new models will come in a variety of configurations; SUVs, Sedans, vans and pickup trucks. Below is a detailed list of some of the top models to look out for in 2018-19.
Audi A1
The Audi A1 is a supermini, and it faces serious contenders such as the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, and the MINI cooper. Audi has hinted improvements in terms of technology, practicability, and style. The exterior will be redesigned, a bolder grille and sharper LED headlights are some of the new features to expect. The 1.0-liter engine will also be revised to improve overall performance. The Audi shares a lot in common with the VW Polo and therefore the two cars are expected to be similar. Both cars will feature an optional 1.5-Liter diesel engine that will produce up to 160 bhp. With no doubt, this is a car to look out for, with improvements in styling and technology, pricing starts from $16,500.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Stelvio is a stylish crossover that shares a similar platform with the Giulia, for example, the doors, and fenders are made of aluminum. With the success of the Giulia, Alfa Romeo is looking forward to releasing the 2018 Stelvio. The car will feature a powerful engine capable of producing up to 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. Alfa Romeo claims the car will hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. Regardless of the impressive performance expected from the Stelvio, It will be slower compared to its smaller sibling, the Giulia. The Stelvio will feature an eight-speed automatic transmission. The price of the Stelvio is yet to be made public.
Tesla Model 3
This is one of the most awaited vehicle. Tesla Model 3 is an all electric car. It has already got about half a million pre-orders. Production is about to start and company will start delivering the car by mid-2018. Model 3 is the cheapest Tesla car so far. It can go 215 miles on a single charge. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just under 6 seconds. It has the five-star safety rating, autopilot, enough space for 5 people, and supercharging feature. It is priced at $35000, you can preorder by paying $1000 at tesla’s official website.
Ford Fiesta ST
The car comes with a 1.5-liter in-line three-cylinder engine that is turbocharged. Ford claims the engine will produce 197 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. The ST is expected to hit 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Ford will fit a six-speed manual transmission into the ST and this will supplement the sporty aspects of the car. In terms of technology, The 2018 Ford Fiesta ST will have a drive mode selector which will allow the driver to change from normal to sport and track. The ST will also have an eight-inch display touch screen with the all-new Sync3 infotainment system. The interior will feature a more upmarket feel with improvements in the material used and technology. The car will come in both three and four door configurations.
Honda Odyssey
This is Honda’s family hauler, the new car for 2018-19 will offer more in terms of versatility and technology. Exterior changes are minimal, however, the new Odyssey will feature new LED headlights. The 2018 Odessey will share a similar platform with the Honda Pilot and the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. The new Odessey will feature a powerful 3.5-liter v6 that will produce 280 horsepower, attached to the engine is a nine-speed automatic transmission. Upper trims of the Odessey come fitted with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The car features 8-inch touchscreen display with Honda’s latest infotainment system. Pricing starts from around $30,000.
Hyundai Accent
This car looks like a smaller version of the Elantra. The Accent is now in its fifth generation and the styling borrows a lot from larger Hyundai’s. The car features a redesigned four-cylinder engine. Coupled with the newly revised engine, are the new technological features that make the car a formidable rival to the Toyota Yaris and Ford Fiesta. The Accent’s exterior has not changed much, with only a few changes at the back and front. Higher trims of the Accent feature LED headlights and larger 17-inch wheels. The car comes fitted with a 1.6 in-line four with direct injection, the engine produces 132 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. This engine is then merged to a six-speed transmission. Notable technological features include push button start and keyless entry, pricing starts at $15,830.
Kia Rio
This is the lowest priced subcompact car from the South Korean automaker. The exterior design of the car looks aggressive and stylish. Kia claims that the car is 90% new; the new car is much lighter than its predecessor. The structure of the car at the front is reinforced with high strength steel. Technological features include lane departure warning, apple car play, and android auto. The car comes fitted with either of these three engines: the naturally aspirated 1.2-liter engine at 83 hp, inline 4-cylinder 1.4-liter turbocharged diesel, and the 1.0-liter turbocharged 3 cylinder engine. The car comes with either a six-speed manual, four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual, pricing starts at $16,390.
Lexus LS500
This is Japanese luxury at its best, the car comes with comfy seats that have contrast-stitched leather. The LS500 shares a platform with the LC coupe, however, it is slightly longer. The car is powered by a turbocharged 3.5-liter v6 that produces 414 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a ten-speed automatic (Aisin). The car comes with rear-wheel drive as the standard configuration, however, all-wheel drive is available as an option, pricing starts from $72,000.
Mercedes E-Class Coupe
The E-Class Coupe is a two-door car with an elegant exterior design. The car comes fitted with a twin turbo 3.0-liter v6 engine that produces a staggering 329 horsepower and 354 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is merged to a nine-speed automatic transmission, Mercedes claims that this transmission improves fuel economy compared to the previous seven-speed automatic. The car comes in two options, either the 4MATIC or the rear-wheel drive version. In terms of technology, the car is fitted with two 12.3 inch screens, one digitally displays the instrument cluster, while the other is for the central COMMAND. Apple Car Play, Android Auto, navigation, and a wireless inductive charging pad are all included as standard, Pricing starts from $53,075.
McLaren 720s
The 720s is a beast in its own capacity, the car is lightweight and is aerodynamically designed for maximum performance at high speeds. The car comes fitted with a twin turbo 4.0-liter engine that produces 710 horsepower that is attached to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 2018 720s has a drift mode as an addition to the standard modes; sport, comfort, and track. The car comes fitted with a touchscreen for the infotainment system as a standard feature. The gauge cluster is displayed digitally, pricing starts from $288,845.
Toyota Camry
The design of the new Camry looks as if it was conceived from a sci-fi movie, however, the new car is taller than the previous model. The interior is elegantly designed with a new dashboard that is much more stylish. There are three engines to choose from, and Toyota claims that the engines have been re-engineered. There is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine that produces 200 horsepower and the 3.5-liter v6 that produces 296 horsepower. The final option is a hybrid model that has the base 2.5-liter engine and electric motors that coordinate the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), pricing starts from $23,995.
Ford Mustang GT
The 2019 Ford Mustang GT is being kept pretty much under wraps by the automobile maker, which has led to much speculation among car aficionados. The car was scheduled to be released sometime in 2019, but if rumors are to be believed, it will hit the market soon. It will feature a 5.2L Voodoo Engine with 750 horsepower at 8200 RPM. It will be the most expensive GT ever.
More upcoming cars:
- Ferrari Dino 2018
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer 2018
- Jaguar XE SVR 2018
- Kia GT 2018
- Audi A7 2018
- Audi A8 2018
- Audi Q7 2018
- BMW X7 2018