Future cars worth waiting for: 2026-2030

Everything we know about Alfa Romeo's SZ-inspired coupé

Alfa Romeo large electric saloon

Alfa will launch a BMW 5 Series rival around 2027, aiming it primarily at the Chinese and North American markets. It will be based on parent company Stellantis’s new STLA Large platform, which allows for body lengths between 4.76m (about as long as a Mercedes-Benz C-Class) and 5.13m (the old Jaguar XJ) and ride heights from 140mm to 287mm. It can also offer huge performance, with 0-62mph times as low as 2.0sec and ranges of up to 500 miles.

Everything we know about Alfa Romeo's new large saloon

Alpine A110 EV

The electric follow-up to one of the past decade’s most celebrated sports cars will use a bespoke platform, confirmed Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo after Alpine and Lotus ended talks to co-develop an electric sports car. The Alpine É-ternite concept provides a first look at what we can expect from the electric A110, offering a single 239bhp motor and enough battery power to drive 261 miles between charges. It’s 258kg heavier than the current A110, at 1378kg in total.

Everything we know about the electric Alpine A110

Alpine A310

The rakish Alpine A310 of the '70s will be reborn as an electric GT, as part of the French brand’s expansion to a seven-car line-up. It will be based on the same Alpine Performance Platform (APP) as the next A110, due in 2027, but offer more practical 2+2 seating – loosely mirroring the relationship between the Porsche 718 Cayman and the Porsche 911.

Everything we know about the new Alpine A310

Alpine electric SUVs

As part of Alpine’s push into new ‘lifestyle’ segments it will launch D- and E-segment electric SUVs, aiming to translate the A110’s dynamic appeal into more family-friendly packages. This will require “various technical solutions”, according to the brand’s head of design, Antony Villain, such as torque vectoring and four-wheel steering. “We want something high-performance, sporty and energised,” said Villain. “We don’t want something that just goes in straight lines super-quickly.”

Everything we know about Alpine's upcoming electric SUVs

Ariel Hipercar

The Ariel Hipercar certainly lives up to its name, packing four electric motors which combined to output a mammoth 1180bhp. It justifies its jet-fighter looks, too, with a gas-turbine range-extender that helps to keep its 62kWh battery topped up.

Ariel Hipercar review

Ariel E-Nomad

Ariel says this electric car is "already on the way". It will offer similar performance levels to the Ariel Nomad 2, but is likely to cost around £10,000 more. Its 281bhp and 360lb ft will be sent to the rear wheels - and Ariel is confident of a 0-60mph time of 3.5sec.

Everything we know about the electric Ariel Nomad

Aston Martin electric SUV

Aston Martin’s first electric car will be a rapid SUV powered by battery and motor technologies from Lucid. The nascent American EV brand claims its current-generation drive outputs are capable of outputting up to 670bhp while weighing slightly less than 74kg apiece.

Everything we know about Aston Martin's first electric car

Aston Martin ‘Project Rambo’

Aston Martin is considering building a rugged 4x4 to rival the Mercedes G-Class, with design proposals currently being evaluated. It’s said to be dubbed ‘Project Rambo’ internally, in reference to the infamous Lamborghini LM002. 

Everything we know about Aston Martin’s super-4x4

Audi A3 successor

The current Audi A3 will be replaced by an all-new model based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform later this decade. It may be sold in parallel with a heavily-updated ICE model – similar to the A4, A6 and Q5.

Everything we know about the electric Audi A3

Audi electric 4x4

Audi bosses are plotting a new go-anywhere 4x4 to rival the Land Rover Defender. It could borrow its underpinnings from new sibling brand Scout’s upcoming SUV and pick-up truck, offering steep departure angles and the ground clearance needed to traverse tricky terrain.

Everything we know about Audi's electric 4x4

Audi R8 successor

Audi is set to base its follow-up to the R8 atop a bespoke EV platform that it's co-developing with Porsche. Work is said to be well under way on the new supercar, tipped to offer a greater power output than any other car in Audi’s line-up.

Everything we know about the electric Audi R8 successor 

Audi TT

The petrol TT has now been retired, but work continues apace on its electric successor. Audi Sport is said to be in an “intense concept phase” for the small coupé’s next iteration, due to arrive within the next five to 10 years. Managing director Rolf Michl said its development is a “huge job” and added that “it will be different but emotional”. 

Everything we know about the next Audi TT

Bentley Urban SUV

Described by the brand as “the world’s first true luxury urban SUV”, Bentley's first EV will be one of 10 EV and plug-in hybrid models to arrive the space of a decade. At less than five metres long, it'll be Bentley's smallest car yet and would sit below the Bentayga. 

BMW 3 Series Neue Klasse

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse concept unveiled at the Munich motor show is our first look at the future of the 3 Series. The radical saloon will be the first in a new crop of electric cars promised to offer a generational leap in technologies, with 30% more range, 30% faster charging and 25% greater efficiency.

Everything we know about BMW's Neue Klasse revolution

BMW M3 Neue Klasse

The Neue Klasse 3 Series is also set to spawn the first electric M3, premiering a “crazy” new ‘Heart of Joy’ chassis control computer. This is said to enable dynamic performance superlative to today’s petrol-engined model.

Everything we know about the electric BMW M3

Caterham Project V

Caterham stunned crowds at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed with its vision of an electric sports car: three seats, 1190kg, 249 miles of range and a price tag of less than £80,000. It could hit production as soon as 2026, at a rate of around 2000 cars per year.

Everything we know about the Caterham Project V

Citroën 2CV

Three decades after the Citroën 2CV went out of production, the French brand is bringing it back into the fray as a compact, retro city car. According to an exclusive Autocar source, design for the new 2CV is under way at a very early stage. We will be patient...

Everything you need to know about the new Citroën 2CV

Ford Mustang 4dr

Remember the Ford Falcon? It’s set to return in the coming years, but this time wearing the full-blooded Mustang badge. Ford CEO Jim Farley seeks to expand the muscle car into a brand in its own right, launching an expanded range of variants. These will comprise both affordable, accessible models for traditional buyers, as well as limited-run models that take it further upmarket – broadly mirroring the approach taken by Porsche for the 911. 

Everything we know about the four-door Ford Mustang

Genesis Neolun

Genesis previewed a striking new flagship earlier this year with the Neolun concept, said to be inspired by Korean moon jars. It’s a large luxury SUV that’s set to be closely related to the Kia EV9 and the Hyundai Ioniq 7, deploying the same E-GMP architecture and possibly the same range of powertrains too. 

Everything we know about the Genesis Neolun

GMA T33

The second supercar from Gordon Murray Automotive is pitched as a “more practical” alternative to the three-seat T50. It drops the T50’s fan-assisted aerodynamics in favour of a more simple passive set-up. Its 3.9-litre Cosworth V12 has also been adapted to improve low-speed torque, with a reduced rev limit of 11,100rpm (down from 12,000rpm). “If you can have only one supercar,” said GMA founder and boss Gordon Murray, “the T33 is designed to be the one you should have.”

Everything we know about the GMA T33 and T33 Spider

Honda 0 Series saloon and SUV

Honda’s 0 Series represents a radical shift in the brand’s approach to EV development, prioritising efficiency, engagement and spaciousness. The first 0 model will arrive in 2026.

Everything we know about the Honda 0 Series

Honda Civic and Jazz EVs

The 0 Series will also usher in electric replacements for the Civic and Jazz hatchbacks, with likely towards the end of the decade. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe has highlighted their importance, telling Autocar: “To increase volumes, we need more affordable EVs.” The firm hinted at its vision for a small, affordable EV with the Sustaina-C concept that took inspiration from 1981’s original Honda City, which in Europe was known as the Jazz.

Everything we know about the Honda Civic and Jazz EVs

Honda NSX EV

It’s not just the affordable Hondas that are set to receive a total overhaul but also the NSX. Honda already has an electric sports car at its R&D centre and is said by CEO Mibe to be “steadily proceeding” with its development, which will likely conclude near the end of the decade. Mibe added that it will “have a completely different taste” from any performance car that the Japanese company has launched previously. 

Everything we know about the electric Honda NSX successor

Honda’s Tesla Model 3 rival

Honda has confirmed it is developing a new mass-market saloon as one of seven radical new electric cars it’s bringing to market by 2030. A competitor for the Tesla Model 3, it will stand out for “the joy of driving”, said Honda, having been developed with an emphasis on minimising weight and complexity.

Everything we know about Honda’s Tesla Model 3 rival

Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

The follow-up to the acclaimed Hyundai Ioniq 5 N will be a hot version of the brand’s executive saloon. It’s expected to use the same 641bhp dual-motor powertrain and a similarly aggressive aerodynamics package, inspired by that fitted to 2022’s RN22e concept.

Everything we know about the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N

IM L6

You might not have heard of IM, but the new Chinese firm is planning to put a dent in Tesla’s sales in Europe from next year. A sibling brand of MG, its L6 saloon promises market-leading specifications, including near-400kW charging, solid-state batteries and a 776bhp dual-motor powertrain. It will be joined by the LS6 SUV, based on the same platform, and a pair of larger models.

Everything we know about the IM L6

Jaguar electric GT

Jaguar's electric GT - pictured in prototype form above – is due in 2026. It's expected to rival the Porsche Taycan and next Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé with more than 575bhp, a range of more than 430 miles and a price of more than £100,000.

Everything we know about the electric Jaguar GT

Jaguar electric SUV and limousine

Autocar understands that the Jaguar GT will be followed by a Bentley Bentayga-sized electric luxury SUV and a similarly positioned electric saloon, with the latter set to serve as a spiritual successor to the XJ. 

Everything we know about the Jaguar 'limo' 

Jeep Wrangler EV

The iconic Wrangler will receive a radical overhaul in 2028, swapping traditional petrol engines for electric and range-extender powertrains. Unlike the smaller Recon, it will use a traditional body-on-frame chassis, maximising its off-road potential. 

Everything we know about the electric Jeep Wrangler

Kia EV2

Kia will launch a European-focused small crossover in 2026, trading the long range and rapid charging speed of its stablemates for a more affordable price tag of around £25,000. 

Everything we know about the Kia EV2

Lamborghini Lanzador

The four-seat Lanzador concept is our first look at Lamborghini’s first EV, set to arrive in 2028. It’s hailed as a “laboratory on wheels” and features an abundance of sustainable materials, including Merino wool, recycled plastics and carbon strands.

Everything we know about the Lamborghini Lanzador

Land Rover Discovery

JLR will reinvent the ailing Discovery brand for its sixth generation by repositioning it away from its Defender sibling.

The Discovery has been losing out on sales to the Defender, and this next model is set to restore the natural order by making the Discovery more family focused. It may even adopt some design elements from MPVs.

Everything we know about the new Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover 'baby' Defender

As part of its reorganisation into a ‘House of Brands’, JLR (formerly Jaguar Land Rover) is set to drastically expand its model offering within each of its sub-brands. Defender is expected to launch an entry-level model as a twin to the next-generation Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Everything we know about the 'baby' Land Rover Defender

Lexus LF-ZC and LF-ZL

Lexus unveiled its future at the Tokyo motor show with the LF-ZC and LF-ZL concepts, a pair of electric flagships premiering a new modular architecture. The production version of each car is set to offer a major increase in electric range – up to 621 miles, in the case of the LF-ZC.

Everything we know about the Lexus LF-ZC and LF-ZL

Lexus LFA successor

Lexus last year confirmed the electric follow-up to the legendary V10-engined LFA supercar will use a GT3 racing-specification chassis, new electronic steering and even a manual gearbox to boost driver engagement. 

Everything we know about the electric Lexus LFA successor 

LEVC L380

The maker of London’s black cab is expanding to sell practical electric cars to the general public, starting with the L380 MPV. Named after the Airbus A380 airliner, it will offer highly flexible seating for eight. UK sales are slated to begin in 2026.

Everything we know about the LEVC L380

Lotus Type 134

Lotus’s rival to the Porsche Macan is expected to utilise a variant of the EPA architecture that underpins the Eletre and Emeya, also sharing technologies with those two models. It expects the crossover to account for half of its annual sales by 2028.

Everything we know about the Lotus Type 134

Lotus Type 135

Despite its split from Alpine, Lotus continues to work on the electric follow-up to the legendary Elise. It will be built around the all-new Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture (Leva) with mid-mounted batteries, aping the weight distribution of classical mid-engined sports cars.

Everything we know about the Lotus Type 135

Lucid compact saloon

American EV firm Lucid will look to increase its volumes with a smaller, more affordable sibling to its Air saloon, targeting the Tesla Model 3. It will major on efficiency, featuring advanced battery and motor technologies. It’s expected to arrive around 2027.

Everything we know about Lucid’s Tesla Model 3 rival

Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati’s rival for the Porsche Taycan was originally scheduled to launch next year but has been pushed back to 2028 to allow more time to develop its business case. The new Quattroporte is expected to use Stellantis’s STLA Large platform, suggesting power outputs of more than 1000bhp could be on the cards. 

Everything we know about the Maserati Quattroporte

Mazda MX-5

The centrepiece of Mazda’s Tokyo motor show stand in 2023 provided a vision of the future for the MX-5, featuring a rotary-electric powertrain capable of delivering 370bhp. It’s expected to influence a production car arriving after 2026.

Everything we know about the electric Mazda MX-5 successor

Mercedes-Benz ‘Little G’

The expansion of the G-Class range will bring a new ‘Little G’ in 2026. The urban-focused model will be offered solely with electric power, sitting on a bespoke platform that takes learnings from both the entry-level MMA architecture and that used by the full-size G. 

Everything we know about Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Little G’

MG 2

MG has confirmed it is working on an electric city car with a target price of around £20,000. It could be named the MG 2 and is expected to go on sale in early 2026.

Everything we know about MG’s plans for a £20k EV

Nissan GT-R

Nissan's next GTR is set to be electric only - and it could be the first production car to make use of solid state batteries. It's set to deliver 1341bhp through all four wheels when it goes on sale, around 2028.

Everything we know about the Nissan GT-R's electric future

Nissan Juke and Qashqai

Nissan has confirmed that the replacements to today’s Juke and Qashqai crossovers will go electric and that they will continue to be built in Sunderland – welcome news for the UK’s ailing car industry. 

Polestar 2 successor

The Polestar 2 will be directly replaced towards the end of the decade. This will maintain a five-tiered Polestar line-up, consisting of the 2 liftback, 3 large SUV, 4 saloon, 5 performance coupé, 6 sports car and 7 mid-sized SUV. 

Everything we know about the Polestar 2 successor 

Polestar 6

The Polestar 6 was initially a dramatic concept car dubbed the O2, but the “overwhelming” positive reception has pushed the firm to put it into production. It will use the same bonded aluminium platform as the Polestar 5, and is likely to share its 874bhp dual-motor powertrain too. It’s set to arrive in 2026.

Everything we know about the Polestar 6

Polestar 7

The Polestar 7 will be a mid-sized SUV to rival the Range Rover Evoque. It will also be the first Polestar model built in Europe, and the brand hopes it will dominate the "biggest and fastest growing" segment in the electric car market. 

Porsche Mission X

The Porsche Mission X is a hypercar concept that previews a potential electric successor to the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder, with a possible power output of around 1500bhp. Described by Porsche boss Oliver Blume as a “technology beacon”, it aims to capture the record lap time for a road-legal car at the Nürburgring.

Everything we know about the Porsche Mission X

Porsche 'K1'

Porsche will use the Volkswagen Group’s upcoming SSP Sport architecture for a seven-seat luxury SUV positioned above the Cayenne. It has been tipped to receive 920V electricals, with lighter-weight wiring and faster charging than PPE-based models. 

Everything we know about the Porsche 'K1'

Renault Twingo

Renault boss Luca de Meo’s retro revolution continues with a revival of the original Twingo city car. It promises to offer “best-in-class” efficiency of 6.2mpkWh and 75% fewer CO2 emissions over its lifespan than the average ICE car currently sold in Europe. Perhaps best of all, it will be cheap, at less than £17,000. 

Everything we know about the new Renault Twingo

Skoda 7S

Skoda will launch a large seven-seat electric SUV, heavily inspired by the Vision 7S concept, in 2026. The so-called ‘Space’ model will be underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture and feature a new 86kWh battery, which should deliver a range of around 300 miles.

We drive the Skoda Vision 7S concept

Toyota Celica

Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda has expressed his desire for the Celica to return, and it’s possible that this could take place as the petrol GR86 is phased out. Such a model would likely use Toyota’s new modular architecture, which underpins the new MR2-style FT-Se concept, with a more traditional ‘front-engine’ coupé bodystyle.

Everything we know about the return of the Toyota Celica

Toyota FT-3e

The Toyota FT-3e introduces a new architecture and software platform that are set to transform the brand’s electric cars. The latter, dubbed Arene, will allow for conventional Toyotas to emulate the dynamic feel of some of its most divergent vehicles, such as simulating the power delivery of the old Lexus LFA’s naturally aspirated V10.