With just a little over two months left before we say adieu to 2017, the wait for all 2018 model releases is hitting fever pitch. We can’t promise to make time move faster than it does, but what we can do is at least prepare everyone for what’s to come when the new year arrives. That said, let me be the first to say that 2018 is going to be a wild year for the auto industry, as old guards are retired, existing nameplates get their redesigns, and most importantly, all-new models are unleashed into the world.
Who knows, 2018 might even be the year when we take a big leap in electric and autonomous technology. A lot of things are at play when the new year rolls around so to keep the anticipation building, do check out this list of some of the hottest and most highly anticipated models to hit the streets next year. We can’t say that we like one of these models better over the other, but at least we’re giving you a good preview of what’s to come. Prepare those checkbooks, ladies and gentlemen, because some of these cars won’t come cheap.
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Kia Stinger
Was there ever any doubt that the Kia Stinger would be on this list? Personally, I’ve been waiting for the Stinger to hit the streets for quite a while now just to see how it stacks up against the European competition. More than that is the excitement that comes with being the model that signals Kia’s entry into the performance sedan market that’s populated by the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, and Audi A4. Does the Kia Stinger and its 365-horsepower output hold up against the competition? We’re going to find out in 2018 and, for what it’s worth, I like Kia’s chances of making a statement when it debuts sometime around the fall of next year.
Read our full review on the 2018 Kia Stinger.
Lexus LS
The Lexus LS flagship sedan is another late 2018 arrival and, just like the Stinger, there are a lot of expectations for this model to do well off the bat. The good news is that Lexus prepared it to meet those standards. For one, the LS is completely redesigned and features a longer, lower, and wider stance. That coupe-like dynamic should play well to those who weren’t fans of the outgoing version. Then there’s the engine, which isn’t anything to sneeze at. The LS will feature plenty of engine choices, beginning with a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 that pumps out 415 horsepower and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. If that doesn’t suit your flight of fancy, Lexus is also offering a hybrid version in the form of the LS 500h. This variant will come with the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine to go with a couple of electric motors. Total output is rated at 354 horsepower, and while it isn’t as powerful or as fast as the gas version, it’s sporty enough that it shouldn’t matter. Besides, hybrid calls for better efficiency, so there’s a nice trade-off right there.
Read our full review on the 2018 Lexus LS.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Ok, so this may be a little bit of a cheat here because deliveries of the Challenger SRT Demon are expected to start any time now if it hasn’t started already. But let’s face it: has there ever been a model this year that’s been hyped up to Timbuktu like the SRT Demon? I personally can’t think of one, though the Porsche 911 GT2 RS is making a late case for itself. Be that as it may, expect production - and the conversations about the Demon - to bleed into the new year as customers slowly start receiving their cars. Without question, this super limited (only 3,000 units in the US) muscle car will dominate the narrative next year, especially if it lives up all the hype it has received since it was announced earlier this year. Hard to imagine going wrong with a car that can spit out 840 horsepower and 720 pound-feet of torque without so much as breaking a sweat in the process.
Read our full review on the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
Tesla Model 3
Yet another model that’s actually already being delivered to the first batch of owners is the Tesla Model 3. And, like the Challenger SRT Demon, there’s tremendous hype surrounding the Model 3, though not exactly for boasting sinister power numbers. The Model 3, in essence, is Tesla’s entry-level offering for those who have been priced out of getting either the Model S sedan or the Model X SUV. There’s been a lot of news surrounding the Model 3 recently, particularly the car’s slower-than-expected production time, but rest assured, 2018 is going to be a huge year for the car because only then will it be determined if the Model 3 is the game-changing vehicle that Tesla has hyped it to be. Mark my words: the Model 3 will dominate plenty of discussions next year.
Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
Jeep Wrangler
Oh, yes! It’s been 11 years since Jeep rolled out an all-new Wrangler, so you can understand why so many people are pumped up to see the next-generation model when it hits dealerships next year. As one of Jeep’s most popular models - Wrangler sales have consistently grown by roughly 20,000 units since 2011 - there are a lot of people waiting with baited breath to see if the new model can live up to the success of its predecessor. Needless to say, Jeep prepared it in such a way that it should be able to carry that burden. It’s already been announced that the new Wrangler will be available as a two-door, four-door Unlimited, and a pickup truck. Likewise, the model will feature a host of new engine choices, including the expected addition of a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 borrowed from the Ram 1500. This mil has up to 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque on tap and will work with a ZF eight-speed auto transmission for good measure.
Read more about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler.
Alpine A110
This is more of a personal choice than anything else because the model isn’t coming to the US. But, allow me to gush over the Alpine A110 one more time. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful sports cars I’ve seen in quite some time, and it’s upcoming release in 2018 has me wishing that I had a European address to go to so that I can get my hands on one. But alas, the A110 will remain across the pond, for now, depriving us the opportunity to gush over it in all its splendid beauty. Make no mistake though; the A110 is more than just eye-candy; it also features a 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo engine that produces 252 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel it from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds before maxing out at a top speed of 155 mph. It really is a bummer that we can’t get our hands on the A110, but stranger things have happened. Cross your fingers that at least some of them find their way into the US. Legally, of course.
Read our full review on the Alpine A110.
Hyundai i30 N
Since we’re here lamenting about the status - or lack of one - of the Alpine A110 here in the US, how about we pour some salt in our wounds by also pointing out that the Hyundai i30 N is also unlikely to make its way to U.S. shores. This list has suddenly turned depressing. As I wipe my tears away, I should point out that the i30 N sits in a similar spot as the Kia Stinger being the first hot hatch offering to come out of Hyundai. And, just like the Stinger, there’s plenty of hype surrounding the i30 N and how it’s going to be able to stack up adjacent the establishment in its segment, which - by the way - includes titans like the Ford Focus ST and the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The i30 N certainly has the numbers to back up its hype - 246 ponies and 271 pound-feet of twist from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine - but only time will tell if the whole package translates into the car we all expect it to be. Good thing, then, that we won’t have to wait too long to find out.
Read our full review on the 2018 Hyundai i30 N.
Volvo XC40
No list of mine is going to be complete without mentioning the latest upcoming release from Volvo. I’m not afraid to admit it either. Volvo has completely won me over, and the excitement I’m feeling in my body over the coming arrival of the XC40 is another indication that I’m fully on-board the bandwagon. I honestly don’t know what I’m most excited about when it comes to the XC40. It could be the fact that it’s actually Volvo’s first ever premium compact SUV. It could also be the fact that it has adopted Volvo’s new design language (one of the best in the business). It could also be that the crossover has enough advanced safety tech features that it helps to validate the automaker’s reputation. It might even be because the XC40 has enough engine options to make a prospective buyer’s head spin. Or, it could be a combination of all of the points I just mentioned. Either way, I’m excited to see the XC40 in full bloom and its arrival in 2018 is going to be cause for celebration in my household.
Read our full review on the Volvo XC40.
Chevrolet Equinox
It’s not exactly an all-new model in the way some other cars on this list are, but still, let’s give some love to the 2018 Equinox. It’s only two years removed from getting the next-gen treatment, but already, Chevrolet is preparing the 2018 model to be 400 pounds lighter than its previous incarnation. On top of that, the steady choice of engine options remains one of its most important attributes, as is the returns owners get from any of these engines - 40 miles per gallon has been reported. It’s safe to say that the crossover and SUV markets will be as competitive as they’ve ever been in 2018 and the 2018 Equinox will definitely be in the thick of all the fighting.
Read our full review on the Chevrolet Equinox.
Toyota Camry
The last spot is reserved for America’s best-selling car, or at least one of the best-selling: the Toyota Camry. Why am I excited for the 2018 release? There are enough reasons to be, including the model’s edgier styling, something that the Camry has never been the best at. Add that to its lineup of powerful and efficient engines, a wide array of advanced safety tech, and you’re looking at a model that’s fixing to keep its position as one of the most popular models in the US. It’s really as simple as that.
Read our full review on the 2018 Toyota Camry.