What does the future behold? There are countless future classics ready to slide out from under the sheets of which they've been covered, and it's all set to happen in 2019. There will be new EVs, new muscle cars, and a complete evolution of luxury cars. One of America's most loved sports cars, the Chevy Corvette, is set move into a mid-engine configuration - something that's been in the works for decades. With that said, we have a lot to be excited for, and this is a list of the models that we just can't wait any longer for.

Michael Fira - 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette

I think no other American car that's on the horizon is as highly anticipated as the eighth generation of the Corvette. After over 60 years in which the Corvette has proudly put the engine in front of the driver, the C8 will finally realize one of Zora-Arkus Duntov's dreams: slotting the engine to the middle position, behind the seats. Thus, the Corvette will finally be in the same category as the Italian supercars it loves to beat on the track and the road already: the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the world.

We hoped to see the C8 at the upcoming North-American International Auto Show but that's not going to happen. Still, the new 'Vette should drop sometime next year and, when it will, everybody will go crazy about it. Either because it's poised to feature a 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged DOHC engine, because of its very European styling, or simply because it's no longer a grand touring car like all the Corvettes before it. It's clear that no other Corvette will be as polarizing as the next one and that's why it's the car I can't wait for the most.

Read our speculative review on the 2020 Chevy C8 Corvette}

Andrei Nedelea - Toyota Supra

Next year will play host to many new model launches, but for me the most eagerly anticipated new car out of all of them has to be the Toyota Supra. Everything from the BMW connection to the fact that Toyota took the same ingredients in quite a different direction really make it interesting to me.

It’s not so much a case of nostalgia for the old model and the feeling of being overjoyed that an iconic model nameplate is being brought back. For me it’s all about it being a sports car with great potential for fun thanks to a characterful six-cylinder engine that both screams and goes, as well as better driving dynamics than the Z4 (because the Supra has a fixed roof and is therefore more rigid).

Read our speculative review of teh 2020 Toyota Supra!}

Jonathan Lopez- 2020 Porsche Taycan

This one seemed like an obvious pick for me. But don’t think it’s because I’m a Porsche fanboy, or that I lose my mind over every new EV that pops up, or that I even particularly like the way the Porsche Taycan looks (seriously, it’s like a Panamera with botched cosmetic surgery).

the driving experience.>

A while back, the head of Porsche’s GT division, Andreas Preuninger, said he would prefer to bow out of the escalating horsepower wars and instead focus on the way a car handles.

“I’m not a believer in this horsepower monster, up, up, up, more, more, more,” he told CAR in an interview. Granted, Preuninger also said his ideal platform would be a lightweight sports car with an atmospheric powerplant, but still, the focus is clear - forget about the output measuring contest, and instead focus on the driving experience.

“For me, it’s important that everyone has fun with the car, can drive fast for his own capabilities, and get better with it,” he said. “Maybe we can make a 7-min 15-sec car - it would be relatively easy - but then it would be a dog on the street. It’s about compromise.”

It appears as though Stuttgart favors forging a connection with the driver over outright power numbers. Indeed, we’ve seen this latter attribute in numerous other EV supercars, such as the Nio EP9 and Rimac Concept One, both of which dole out over 1,000 horsepower from their respective all-electric powertrains.

Another example of the traditional “power is king” philosophy comes from Tesla and the Model S P100D, which can trounce most ICE-driven cars with its 2.5-second 0-to-60 mph time. However, throw the Model S onto a tight, winding road, and most drivers would prefer something else underneath them.

And that’s exactly what we could see in the Taycan. Porsche’s engineers are brilliant when it comes to creating a handling package that delights and excites, as evidenced from decades of the 911, among countless other models. Now, it’s time to apply that magic to EVs, and in so doing, shine a light forward for those sports car lovers looking to move into the next phase of transportation.

That makes the Taycan a very important vehicle, and not just for Porsche. Here’s to hoping it’s worth the wait.

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 Porsche Taycan.->art177817

Safet Satara - 2020 Jaguar XJ

While Jaguar may not actually reveal a production XJ (although, it just might), we are in to learn a bunch about it next year. I chose this car for several reasons:

- It will be an electric full-size luxury sedan

- Jaguar will dispense with the usual sedan form and create a five-door hatchback XJ

- It will be the most luxurious and tech-savvy Jaguar to date

- It will clearly show Jaguar's future intentions and possibly confirm the rumors that Jaguar will go all-electric and only-electric sometime soon.

Details are very scarce at this point in time, but we did get a hint that the new XJ may receive the Jaguar's I-Pace electric system. However, it will be tailored for the larger XJ giving it somewhat different performance.

Think about it, every time we get a full-size luxury car some boundaries get moved. Mercedes does that the best with its S-Class, but an all-electric XJ sounds awesome to say the least.

After all, this is an icon with more than 50 years of history in its wheels. Becoming electric after such a pace is incredible.

However, this will not be the first time for the XJ to dwindle around the electric motor idea. In 2009, Jaguar showcased the XJ Limo Green that had an electric motor and a 1.2-liter range-extender engine. It was not exactly usable as it could drive only 30 miles on electric energy only.

Now, the electric Jaguar XJ says something else as well - Jag is about to focus on China. A lot.

Read our full review of the 2018 Jaguar XJ50}

Ciprian Florea - 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

2019 promises to bring us the most advanced vehicles ever designed. EVs with more than 300 miles of range, more semi-autonomous and even fully-autonomous cars, as well as infotainment system functions built on augmented reality. But despite all of this, I'm anxious to see more old-school stuff, and the first that comes to mind is the new Shelby GT500. Seriously, how can you not get excited about the GT500's return after a four-year absence?!

And it will return with a vengeance, in the form of a supercharged V-8 rated at more than 700 horsepower. Based on the sixth-generation Mustang and fitted with new exterior parts, the GT500 will also look more aggressive than ever. It should be notably quicker too, likely the first of its kind to hit 60 mph from a standing start in three seconds or even less. It should also establish a new quarter-mile benchmark by slipping under the 11-second mark.

The authentic muscle car lives, and that's one of the most important automotive events in 2019, the year when we'll talk more about electrification and autonomous vehicles rather than old-school performance.

Read our speculative review of the 2019 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500}

Kirby Garlitos - 2020 Polestar 1

I could have gone in a number of different directions here because of all the noteworthy choices that are available, but I’m picking the model that embodies Volvo’s “rise from the ashes” story: the Polestar 1.

The plug-in hybrid coupe is scheduled for a mid-2019 launch, and you can bet that a lot of people are already gearing up for that launch. On paper, the Polestar 1 looks absolutely delicious. It comes packing a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline-four engine and three electric motors, one in front and two at the back. The inline-four unit and the front electric motor combine to produce an output of 375 horsepower while the two motors at the back pitch in with 111-horsepower units. Put all of those together and you’re looking at a sports coupe that produces 591 horsepower and a gargantuan 738 pound-feet of torque. Polestar also claims that the 1 carries a 93-mile range in its rear-wheel-drive EV mode. Those numbers dominate what other plug-in hybrids are capable of.

I can talk about numbers all day and the Polestar 1 impresses all the way through. But this model isn’t just about power and performance, either. Have you seen what it looks like? This coupe can win beauty contests as easily as it can destroy rival plug-ins on the road. Volvo’s signature design language features prominently on the model, none more significant than those drop-dead gorgeous headlamps that have become the design staple of the Swedish brand. It’s not just about Thor’s Hammer, either. Stare at the Polestar 1 and the first thing you’ll notice is how clean it looks. There’s no excess or wasted design in the coupe. Every angle, panel, and character line is nuanced to the point that they all blend together. That’s the goal of every automaker, right? Volvo and Polestar absolutely nailed it here.

I’m not going to turn this into a full-blown review of the coupe and rattle off the coupe’s tech wizardry. What I will tell you, though, is that Volvo’s decision to establish Polestar as a separate, stand-alone performance brand looks like a lottery ticket-winning decision. I’m not too thrilled that the coupe will cost around $155,000 and that production is limited to just 500 units per year. But the coupe is available via a bundled lease, so it’s not like anybody’s going to be completely priced out of getting one. With respect to the Toyota Supra, the Polestar 1 is the car that I’m most excited to see in 2019. Quite frankly, it wasn’t a hard decision, to begin with.

Read our full review for the 2020 Polestar 1}

Sidd Dhimaan - 2020 BMW iX3

The EV evolution is taking over, so my choice had to be one from the future. The reason for choosing this is simple - it is the electric version of the X3; and do we need to talk about one of the most successful products from the automaker’s stable? While there are some brand new concepts like the i4 and the iNext, the iX3 is probably what will bring in volumes for the Bavarian. It is based on a tried-and-trusted product that has proved its mettle ever since its inception.

On the outside, the car has very few differences that sets it apart from the X3 crossover. While the iNext will be the flagship EV and the i4 will be more driver-oriented, the iX3 brings in the all-roundedness that will please all and offend none. BMW has plans to introduce 12 electric models by 2025, and the iX3 could very well be the top-selling model. Although details are slim at this moment, we could see and hear more of the iX3 in 2019. I’m kind of sure that the iX3 will shine in all the departments except the driving range. Driving range has been BMW’s Achilles’ heel from the very beginning. And, given the way Tesla and Audi have upped the game in this department, it is going to be tough for BMW to sustain with the mediocre range it has offered on previous occasions.

I don’t see the iX3 to be a stand-out car, or car of the year, or anything. To quote Jason Derulo from a rap battle, “It’s not the pretty one, not the gritty one, it’s the one you never see”. Don’t get me wrong; it’s my pick for a reason, but the iNext and the i4 will rain on the iX3’s parade and eclipse it completely. Nevertheless, the iX3 will prove be an important product in the Bimmer’s electric line up moving forward.

Read our full review of the 2018 BMW iX3 Concept}