Porsche 718
Probably as big as new car reveals get for PH in 2025, the battery-powered pairing of Boxster and Cayman replacements are expected to land at some point in the next 12 months. Their objective, despite the relative success of the Taycan and Macan Electric, looks challenging to say the least, with almost 30 years of flat-six heritage to replace in the junior mid-engined Porsches. And with the EV climate currently being as capricious as it is, too - the manufacturer has rowed back on its initial commitment to 80 per cent of its line-up being all electric in 2030. On the other hand, who better to silence the doubters on EV sports cars than Porsche? The Taycan reset pretty much every expectation for large EVs, and it has previewed what’s to come with the Mission R concept and, more recently, the GT4 e-Performance (pictured). Something between the two would do nicely.
Range Rover Electric
The launch of a fully electric model is arguably the most significant update for the Range Rover in generations. The arrival of diesel decades ago and the plug-in hybrids of more recent times feel like much smaller milestones than a Range with no engine at all. As much is clear from how much pre-launch hype there’s been, with extensive testing and development publicity. Interested parties have been able to pre-order for a while, and it’s easy to believe that plenty of deposits have already been placed. In theory, electrification plays perfectly to the effortless nature of the Range Rover experience, with instant torque and even better refinement. We should know for certain by the end of 2025.
Jaguar GT
Of course, an even bigger debut from the JLR empire is set for the end of this year: a production version of the Jaguar Type 00 concept seen in December. Which was received with uproar from some corners, to put it mildly, but the Miami show car ensured a level of interest and intrigue in Jaguar that hadn’t existed for decades. It’s a brand that’s being talked about again, for better or for worse; Jaguar will hope that it can remain in the public consciousness (and news cycles) for the rest of ‘25 as it readies the real thing - hopefully with colours other than pink available. A design that closely resembles the concept is coming, along with a big battery to get an appropriately chunky range for a new-era Jag GT. Probably one or two more comments are coming as well. Watch this space…
Aston Martin Volantes
Trust Aston to deliver a welcome slice of tradition among so many progressive EVs. After such popularity in previous iterations and very favourable reaction to the hardtop cars, both the Aston Martin Vantage and Vanquish will gain drop-top variants in 2025. The former will rival cars like the Mercedes AMG SL and Porsche 911, with the Vanquish lining up against the new Ferrari 12Cilindri for 12-cylinder soft top supremacy. Both Vantage and Vanquish look set to follow the template employed by the DB12 (pictured), with a canvas roof, a slight softening of dynamic focus and a whole heap of visual and aural drama as recompense. Given how good the pair of coupes have already proved themselves, the new convertibles promise to be very special indeed.
Hyundai Ioniq 6N
It wasn’t very long ago that the mere notion of an enthusiast-focused electric Hyundai would have seemed far-fetched, let alone be a reality to eagerly anticipate. But that’s what Hyundai’s N division, and specifically the Ioniq 5N, have achieved; the giant hatch turned out so well that we’re expecting very much more of the same from the Ioniq 6N equivalent. Given the standard ‘streamliner’ hasn’t been a roaring sales success, perhaps a sharp new 650hp flagship will shine a light on the rest of the range. As with the five-door, expect modes aplenty for the 6N, plus a raft of hardware tweaks to make it a properly good drive even when not N Grin Boosting your way around a track. A look that apes the design of the stunning RN22e concept (pictured) should ensure plenty of attention for the new Ioniq. If we’re lucky, there’ll be another Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing festival in Korea, and the Ioniq 6N will debut there.
Alpine A390
With Alpine’s electric future off to such an auspicious start with the A290 hot hatch, expectations have been lifted that bit higher for the next installment of the Dream Garage. With the city runabout on sale and the A110 sports car in place, it’s the turn of the family-focused A390 next during 2025. As with the smaller Alpine, we’ve seen a Beta concept of the A390 (pictured); and just like that car, we’d bank on the production version closely mirroring the preview. Maybe not with a shark fin and Sabelt harnesses, sure, though quite possibly with suicide doors and a rear bench that ramps up the luxury for those onboard in a way that no Alpine has before. Nobody quite does glamour and sense of occasion like the French, so it’ll be fascinating to see how that combines with Alpine’s credentials as a sports car maker and Renault’s notable inroads with electric cars. More interesting than most EV SUVs, put it that way.
Lexus LF-R
A new Lexus supercar hasn’t been officially confirmed as yet - let alone assigned a name (we're jumping on the guessing bandwagon with LF-R) - though certainly a V8 hybrid prototype has been testing at the Nurburgring in recent months. And it looks an awful lot like the Toyota GR GT3 concept first shown in 2022 that Toyota seemed so keen to advance with both on road and track. Don’t forget the stunning Lexus Electrified Sport, either (pictured) which previewed an exciting future for hybridised Lexuses that aren’t just SUVs. Toyota being Toyota - i.e. a lot more interested in enthusiast cars than most - seems very committed to the idea of a proper supercar that either indirectly replaces the LFA or crowns a global GR line-up. Either way, with a V8 under the bonnet and looks to kill - even as a test mule - we can’t wait to find out more.
BMW Neue Klasse
A huge year ahead for BMW, as its Vision Neue Klasse cars become production realities. You’re probably up to speed with the saloon and SUV for now, but a brief reminder if not: the four-door car (pictured in concept format) will be the all-electric 3 Series (potentially another i3, in fact), while the Neue Klasse X will become effectively the new iX3. The latter will arrive first, sitting between smaller offerings like the iX1 and larger SUVs like the iX to give BMW an electric offering in every segment. It’s the saloon that’s of most interest, however, not least because it will eventually spawn the first electric M3 as well. The big news for this latest BMW reinvention is the new electric architecture underneath, with significant improvements coming for both efficiency and charging speed. Expect a dramatic interior change as well, with a minimalist vibe and a heavy focus on voice control. Plus, if the concept is anything to go by, a great-looking 3 Series to usher in its electric age. Consider us more than a little intrigued.
Audi RS5
The behemoth that is the Audi product line-up simply does not stop rolling, and it will continue to fill in the gaps that exist in its odd (part-combustion) and even (fully electric) naming strategy. This includes various Audi Sport-developed models, which must be made to bear the weight of historical expectation even as they take new shape. On this basis, the all-new, exclusively battery-powered RS6 probably looms largest on the manufacturer’s horizon - but before it arrives it will be the job of the plug-in hybrid RS5 to usher in the age of electrification. Expect a livelier iteration of the previous V6 to soften the blow, alongside the kind of brand-specific good looks that ought to distinguish it from the otherwise imperious BMW M3 Touring. Expect it to be hugely faster than the new S5 (pictured), too.
Mercedes-AMG CLE 63
Much like Audi Sport, if you asked Mercedes-AMG to order its incoming cars based on importance, then it is very likely that its all-electric, Taycan-rivalling replacement for the four-door GT 63 would appear right at the top. That’s because it sits on the standalone AMG.EA platform and is therefore the result of huge investment. But the car we’re most excited about is the long-mooted and almost certainly V8-powered ’63’ version of the current CLE. We’re on the record as big fans of Mercedes’ mid-sized solution to the upmarket coupe conundrum, especially when it outputs 449hp in 53 costume. But the 4Matic+ chassis can handle plenty more besides and AMG would certainly like to paper over the conspicuous crack that is the current C63. A bruising 4.0-litre CLE would be like hanging a Rothko print in the showroom.
Ferrari EV
Extensive on-road testing (not to mention preceding concepts) have left us in little doubt about what most of the cars above will actually look like - but Ferrari’s first-ever EV, due to be unveiled this year, is a much slipperier prospect. Will it be a sensuous, multi-seat supercar, or a coupe-ish SUV? Or something in between? No one is precisely sure and, for now, the manufacturer isn’t inclined to tell us. But rest assured, whatever it has under the metaphorical covers is going to be momentous: not just as the original battery-powered Ferrari (though that would be sufficient) but because the likes of Aston, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren and Porsche will all attempt to follow in its wake. So no matter even if it doesn't live up to the visual impact of something like the new F80 (pictured), trailblazing status is assured.
Caterham Project V
Lastly, an outside bet. Probably Caterham’s electric car isn’t going to be ready for production in 2025 (it is, after all, a complicated and supremely ambitious undertaking, and it puts the firm even more at the mercy of third-party suppliers than it usually is) but we can at least expect to see a working prototype in short order, which, if it all goes according to plan, ought to result in a finalised version by the end of the year. Which would be hugely exciting - especially if the firm’s vision of a battery-powered lightweight sports car actually produces something lightweight and suitably sporty. Because we already know that the Project V concept looks great - and wouldn’t it be lovely if there were something British-built to rival all those Porsches?
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