The recession is technically over and before long, companies might actually start frakkin’ hiring people for jobs again…that is, if this isn’t just a financial bubble prefacing a double-dip recession. Naked short-selling aside, the auto industry is reaching into the future with great abandon, apparently unconcerned enough with the shakiness of the recovery to pump out some new, interesting, and in some cases, downright spellbinding new cars, trucks, and what-have-you. There will be new marques to choose from, as well as new forms of power. Here are fifteen such vehicles I’ve selected that I’m looking forward to. Complications notwithstanding, all of these should be on the road in the next year or two, if they aren’t already.
1. Buick Regal - An old name gets slapped on a new, very German car that is gorgeous and may actually be fun to drive as well. Moreover, it apparently will be powered exclusively by four-bangers. Not only is a high-performance version possible, we may (fingers-crossed) even get a wagon version, which would be awesome and hilarious at the same time: Buick wants younger buyers, so is a relatively big FWD wagon the way to go? For me, maybe.
2. Cadillac CTS Coupe - The latest and perhaps best iteration yet of 21st Century Cadillac zaniness. Art + Science Fiction. And the first hard-roof coupe from Caddy in seventeen years. It looks like nothing else on the road and has that same concept car aura of the new Camaro. Because its a bit smaller than the sedan, it should be faster too…which brings me to the V-series version, which is also coming.
3. Chevy Cruze - Chevy wants a “flawless” unveiling for the replacement for the boring Cobalt and its clone, the Pontiac G5. Looks to get 40+mpg on the highway. GM going small and Direct Injection with engines. Forget the Volt, this thing is important. If Chevy can’t steal some sales away from the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla with this, all is for naught.
4. Ferrari 458 Italia – A new Ferrari is like a new American fighter jet – really expensive, unobtainable, and almost pointless even – the F450 hasn’t aged a day – but nevertheless more than welcome. It looks and sounds the business, and with tons of F1 tech in it, it will most certainly drive the business too.
5. Ford Fiesta - It’s coming. How much different it will look from the European one isn’t known, but Ford has been without a small car since the Kia-based Aspire, which was pathetic. The Fiesta hopefully begins a trend of “cheap but not rubbish” small cars by American carmakers (unlike the awful Chevy Aveo, the only subcompact any of the Detroit 3 currently sell.)
6. Fiat 500 - Fiat Group bought Chrysler, which is awesome because it means Italian cars that don’t cost six figures will again be sold here soon. In Europe, the 500 is extremely popular, and also re-skinned as a Ford Ka, but in America the Nuovo Topolino will be sold at Chrysler dealerships, giving that sinking ship a badly-needed small car. It should sell well to people who want a car that’s cheaper and cuter than a MINI and fresher and more fun than the aged VW New Beetle. Also, it’s Italian. ‘Nuff said.
7. Lexus LFA - The most interesting Lexus ever. Not saying much, but the amount of labor and attention to detail that went into this taut driving machine cannot be overlooked. Neither can the $375,000+ price tag. Lexus will still lose money on every one they sell. One of only two radial carbon fiber looms in the world weave the A-pillars together. A manically-anal-retentive gearhead’s wet dream, this.
8. Mahindra Pickup - This awkward, dowdy pickup will likely beat the Tata Nano as the first Indian vehicle sold in America. It runs on diesel engines, which I love, and is tough, durable, and no-nonsense (well, except the optional chrome grille.) It should also be cheap. Hopefully the government will permit their sale, because they can do the same farm and labor jobs as much larger American pickups but are far more fuel efficient and take up less space.
9. Mitsubishi Outlander - If there was a Comeback Crossover of the Year category, Outlander would win it hands down. While its European cousins the Peugeot 4008 and Citroen C-Crosser were brought to market with bold, in-your-face looks, The Mitsu was plainer than white bread, and more forgettable too. That ends immediately with a menacing new face with an Evo-inspired grille, more power, upscale-r interior, and very untrucklike road manners. In other words, it’s better in every way.
10. Nissan LEAF - Though being heralded with far less pomp and circumstance than Chevy’s $40,000, four-seat Volt, Nissan’s electric car for everyone will likely beat it to dealers. It also aims to be cheaper and more practical. But yes, it does somewhat resemble a parrotfish.
11. Saab 9-5 - The first all-new Saab seemingly ever, the new 9-5 flagship will go on sale when new sort-of owner Koenigsegg, figures out exactly how they’re going to make it. While there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the new 9-5 marks a return to more of that Saab quirkiness that was mostly lost during GM rule, when marketers thought comparing a TrailBlazer clone to a fighter jet would make people want to buy the 9-7x.
12. Scion iQ - While not a 100% sure thing, it is likely Toyota’s teeny-tiny iQ will come to America as a Scion, since they’d prefer young, hip people buy it than the average Toyota customer, who is about 75. While perhaps not as miniscule as a Smart, the iQ is better packaged, has at least one back seat, doesn’t look as stupid, carries Toyota’s vaunted reputation for quality along with it, and won’t be quite as overpriced. Hopefully its axles won’t rust away after three years!
13. Suzuki Kisashi – Suzuki’s had a bit of a raw deal in the U.S. as purveyors of stretched Equinox clones and dull-as-paste, chintzy Daewoos. The homebuilt SX4 shook things up, being the cheapest AWD car as well as the cheapest with satnav standard. They take it up a notchwith the very Japanesey Kisashi, a smart, Jetta-sized sedan that bucks the more-is-more trend and goes instead for driver involvement and all-around quality. Suzuki’s marketing sucks, but hopefully this will sell well, because it looks to be a fine car and a bargain to boot.
14. Toyota/Subaru Compact Sports Coupe - Pretty much nobody needs a sporty coupe more than Toyota, except for maybe Subaru, so the two decided to save some time and develop one jointly. I’m looking forward to their final results. So far we’ve only seen the Toyota version in concept form (and monkey-butt red metallic paint.) The Subaru will likely be larger and of course feature standard AWD. The last Subaru coupe was the epic-but-pricey SVX, while Toyota’s Celica died a slow death. Here’s hoping they have better luck with what will be far superior machines.
15. VW Golf TDI - What was the Rabbit became the Golf then the Rabbit again and now the Golf again. Golf Mark VI is more refined and mature Golf ever, and so is the TDI’s diesel engine. Not only that, the TDI is fun. Fun to dart around in. Which means even if you have to drive a little further to find a diesel pump, you’ll be grateful. And it gets 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The Mercedes SLS AMG.
Gullwings = WIN.
Q.E.D.
