Future Car reviews

Mercedes is ready to revise its most potent version of the GLC SUV, the GLC63 AMG, along with the rest of the range. Camouflaged prototypes have been spotted testing on the Nurburgring, hiding some new bumpers, as well as new lights too.

This is is not a major revision of the model, at least not from the outside, and interior changes won’t be excessive either. Regarding its powertrain, since this is a mid-life cycle refresh, we don’t expect it to get any more power or any extra performance.

The big news with this is the new front end which has been reshaped to resemble that of the new Mercedes corporate face you’ve already seen on the CLS or the new A-Class.

Volkswagen is testing its upcoming T-Roc Convertible, and this is the very first set of shots showing a camouflaged prototype of the drop top. The vehicle will replace the VW Golf Convertible in the range, and like that car, it will feature a soft top and frameless and pillarless doors.

It is going to be a four-seater vehicle with decent room in the back for passengers, powered by a range of mostly gasoline and probably diesel engines and at the moment it has no real crossover rivals in the same size and price bracket.

The soft top it uses looks like it’s very similar in shape to that of the current Golf Cabriolet, and it will pretty much offer the same experience as that car but will sit slightly higher off the ground and better off-road capability. But make no mistake, it is designed to spend most of its time on the road, and we doubt anybody will want to do serious off-roading in one of these.

The Subaru Outback is due for a refreshment next year as the Japanese manufacturer prepares to roll the sixth generation as a 2020 model. Expect the same build quality and ruggedness from the next-generation off-road station wagon.

The new Forester will come next year along with the new seventh-generation Legacy to which it will still be linked. Both cars will sit on the new Subaru Global Platform which should ensure better handling thanks to a lower center of gravity, increased structural rigidity and versatility.

Subaru previewed the design direction of the new Outback with the Viziv Concept Tourer, but don’t hold your breaths for anything that sporty. Some design elements will be kept, albeit toned down a few notches, but, otherwise, this crossover between an SUV and a station wagon should retain its familiar proportions and lines.

Keep reading to find out how we reckon the new Outback will turn out to be

BMW is reportedly readying an even hotter version of its M2 to sit above the M2 Competition - they are the M2 CS and M2 CSL, and our spies believe that’s what they captured in these photos. Some older reports from before the Competition model was launched, called it the M2 GTS. The white prototype features several changes over the M2 Competition and, as a Whole, it looks like a more aggressive, track-focused machine.

It has been suggested that the M2 CS would be a North America-only limited model available from 2020 and that the CSL would be even more extreme and sold on other markets from 2021, but right now it’s too early to make these predictions. Both will clearly be lighter, more powerful and better around a track than the Competition which in turn is one step up from the base M2.

Lexus was seen this week testing a modified LFA with the Nurburgring package right at the fabled German circuit, and it got us intrigued. It’s been six years since the last LFA rolled off the production line, so could Lexus prepare for a replacement despite claims they aren’t looking at this possibility?

The original LFA, launched after much lament and almost a whole decade in the works, back in 2010 is a sort of a flawed genius. Originally criticized for its lumpy gearbox and somewhat underpowered V-10 engine, it ultimately grew on and won over some of its most fierce critics due to its special charisma. It was a refined supercar with build quality that rivaled and maybe surpassed that of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and with an engine that sounded as good as any Italian thoroughbred.

Now, six years on, we know from a couple of years ago that the message that was conveyed by the LFA has endured and that Lexus might not be looking at building a replacement for it in the next few years. But what if they are? Yoshihiro Sawa hinted during his visit this year at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed that “a pure F GT car, which could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine” is on the cards. What if he’s not only referring to an LC F but to something more?

Keep on reading to find out our thoughts on how the LFA’s replacement could be.

BMW is going to launch an all-new generation of its larger coupe-styled X6 SUV (which it calls SAC, short for Sport Activity Coupe) and, as with the current model, it will also be available as a hot X6M with the full Motorsport treatment.

That means it will be powered by a development of the current 4.4-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 that powers the M5, although it’s been suggested it may get more power, while from a visual standpoint, expect it to look like an X6 on steroids, with bold flared wheel arches, aggressive bumpers, side skirts and rims, as well as the trademark exhausts in the back.

Bollinger is a new manufacturer that showed off a very promising all-electric off-roader known as the B1, which it has yet to officially launch, but has now expanded its future lineup to include the Bollinger B2 - a long-wheelbase version of the B1.

The BMW M3 has been around for a while now, first entering production in 1985 as a high-powered go-faster variant of the ever-popular BMW 3 Series. The latest F80 generation dropped in 2014, essentially setting the benchmark for all other fast four-doors to match, and now, there’s a new generation in the making. Dubbed internally as the G80, the next M3 is shaping up to be quite the ultimate driving machine, so we gathered up all the rumors we could find and put ‘em right here in the following speculative review.

Updated 10/09/2018: The M3 was once again spied, both at the ’Ring and on the street, and this time it’s sporting even less camo! Check out the new round of pics below...

The E-tron Quattro is Audi’s first-ever all-electric SUV. It was previewed by a similar concept car back in 2015 and made its debut as a production model in 2018. Developed as a competitor for the Tesla Model X, the E-tron Quattro joins Audi’s existing range of hybrid models that also use an "e-tron" badge.

Smaller than the Q7 but notably bigger than the Q5, the E-tron created its very own niche in the Audi lineup. It’s not big enough to offer full-size capability, but it’s not too cramped either. At the same time, it’s the perfect compromise for urban driving, as it’s not as difficult to park as the company’s range-topping SUV. The big question is, does it have what it takes to give the Tesla Model X a run for its money? Audi has yet to unveil all essential information, which makes predictions difficult, but we still know enough to paint a fair picture. Find out more in the review below.

Updated 10/03/2018: We’ve added all the latest, straight from the 2018 Paris Motor Show!

Honda is testing an all-new Jazz subcompact hatchback, also known as the Fit in some markets. It’s the fourth generation for the nameplate and it looks like it will retain the wedge-nosed one-box design of its predecessors, albeit with a slightly sportier design twist.

The camouflaged prototype spotted by our spies reveals quite a lot about the car, which is slated for a reveal no earlier than 2020, since the refreshed version of the current model only came out last year. Aside from the completely new and slightly more rakish-looking body, changes will be made to its powerplant lineup and interior. The hybrid version may share its powertrain with the new Insight.

Renault is preparing to launch a small crossover based on the next Clio city car, aiming to woo buyers away from the Ford Fiesta Active, Hyundai i20 Active and other similar small high-riders. What’s a bit strange is that the French automaker already has just such a vehicle in its range, called the Captur, but apparently, this one is going to be placed under it in the model lineup.

We also don’t yet know what Renault wants to call this new model, whether it will use the Clio SUV or a completely new name. One thing’s certain - it won’t be merely a Clio with extra ground clearance and body cladding; its body is taller and looks different compared to the fifth-gen Clio we’ve seen in another batch of spy photos.

Jaguar is preparing a refreshed version of its XE compact executive sedan that could be revealed as early as next year’s Geneva Motor Show. However, don’t expect it to be radically different to the current car, as Jaguar has shown that in recent years it’s adopted an evolutionary tactic for the design of its vehicles - no big changes will be made, especially since this is just a mid-life revamp, and not an all-new model.

The big news with the XE won’t be of a visual nature, but mechanical instead - Jaguar has been talking a lot about electrifying its models, and the XE is quite possibly going to be the first Jag with a mild-hybrid powertrain that pairs its current line of Ingenium four-cylinder engines with a with a 48-Volt electrical system. That system replaces the traditional alternator and starter motor combo with a single unit that also assists the powertrain.