Future Car reviews

The current generation X1 was launched back in 2015 and there’s no secret that it was never a very successful car. No wonder that BMW is preparing big updates for the next model set to arrive in 2022. In a recent press release, the company confirmed that the next X1 will be offered with "both a combustion engine and a fully-electric drivetrain."

The model will also receive the same treatment as the recently launched 1-Series and 2-Series: An X1 M35i version that will pretty much replace the usual M version you get with cars like the X3 and the X4.

In recent years, Fiat started resurrecting model names from the past. They started with the Fiat 124 Spider, which shares the underpinnings of the Mazda MX-5. More recently, the company brought back the Tipo name, as a more affordable alternative to the likes of Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf that comes in three body types – hatchback, sedan, and station wagon. For 2023, the Italian model is station wagon is getting a more rugged, high-riding version called the Tipo Cross Station Wagon.

Rumors of a new full-size Audi SUV have been circulating for a long time and now there’s actual proof that Audi is indeed cooking a new flagship SUV model. Recently, a fully-camouflaged Audi SUV has been spotted testing at Volkswagen’s test facility in Sweden, doing cold-weather testing. With BMW’s introduction of the X7 and Mercedes’s GLS already on sale for some years, it only made sense for Audi to bring out a competitor. Here’s what we know so far.

Update 10-27-2021: The Audi Q9 has been spotted once again, this time doing some on-road testing in warmer weather.

Genesis may have only been around for only five years, but it has already proved it can give “the old dogs” a run for their money. Not only are they not stopping but they are, once again, taunting the German trio in a very bold move. The Korean luxury brand was caught doing cold-weather testing in Sweden with a new Genesis G90 executive sedan. Mercedes recently brought out the new S-Class, while Audi is preparing an updated A8. We also know that BMW is about to give us a new 7-Series very soon, so it will be interesting to see how the all-new Genesis G90 will fare.

In 2012, the Mercedes A-Class finally became what it should have been from the beginning – a proper hatchback. With the W177-generation, the A-Class improved upon the traditional hatchback body type even more and now, a facelift is in the making. The latest spy footage suggests that the mildly hot AMG A35 is out testing and, given the amount of camouflage, the hot hatchback is almost ready for a debut.

With the “regular” 911 (992) GT3 out and official, all eyes are now headed towards the GT3 RS. As expected, the more hardcore version of the already hardcore GT3 will feature more of everything - except for the weight, of which it will have less. The most important thing is that the latest most track-focused normally-aspirated 911 is underway, and here’s what we can expect.

Updated 09/24/2021: The upcoming Porsche 911 GT3 RS was caught testing again, this time on the roads around the Nürburgring as well as on the track. Check out the story for new details on the future sports car!

I have to admit: when I saw the Tonale Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show I was impressed. It kind of looked like the Stelvio, but it was a lot sportier. It was proof that Alfa Romeo can significantly improve its SUV look.

And when Alfa Romeo announced a production version should follow shortly, I was even more stocked. Problems though came shortly after the announcement. Jean-Philippe Imparato was unhappy with the performances offered by the plug-in hybrid system and decided to delay the launch of the production version Tonale. The merge between FAC and PSAdelayed the Tonale even more. But, all those problems are now solved and the Tonale is back on track! An official debut should happen sometime in 2022, and it will be built at the Stellantis plant in Pomigliano d’Arco.

The next-generation Mercedes AMG SL63 has repeatedly been spotted out testing. The car is slowly being unveiled, as it features less camouflage every time. In fact, the new AMG SL63 is showing us almost all o its design features. Compared to models like the SLS AMG and its successor, the AMG GT, it was always a bit on the softer side in terms of the overall driving characteristics. However, things are about to change with this new generation, as it is the first SL, developed by AMG. What will this mean for the SL’s current target group?

Kia launched the fourth generation Sorento back in 2020. At the moment of its launch, only gasoline and hybrid engines were announced, and a plug-in hybrid version was promised for the 2022 model year. Now the plug-in hybrid version has been finally added to the Sorento lineup, and it comes with a few cool promises, including a combined overall range of 460 miles.

Mercedes went on an electrification spree at the 2021 IAA Mobility Show in Munich, Germany. One of the cars unveiled here was the EQG, the EQ electric equivalent of the legendary G-Class SUV, or more popularly known as the G-Wagen. The off-roader is one of the most iconic models ever built and is still going strong despite its boxy and old-school demeanor. In fact, that is the one thing that’s still attracting purists.

The company showcased the EQG Concept that follows a similar path, but with a lot of new tech. This is said to be a near-production concept, so we can expect the real deal to be revealed by next year, perhaps.

Audi’s onslaught in the EV segment continues. Less than a month after debuting the convertible two-seater Skysphere concept, the automaker has now unveiled another concept; this time a four-door concept called the Grandsphere. The concept comes with interesting specs like a dual motor setup, 711 horses and 708 pound-feet of torque, 0-62 mph in just over four seconds, etc. The stretched model which Audi calls “private jet for the roads” is surprisingly even longer than some Ford F-150 models! Seems like an interesting product, doesn’t it?

Vauxhall/Opel’s first electric car - the Ampera - was a fiasco. While it started strong on the market, by the end of 2015 only 200 units a year were being sold. Now, the company hopes that the success will come by using electric powertrain on names with tradition on the market.

Now in its eighth generation, the Astra will be offered for the first time with an electric powertrain. Called Astra-e, the electric version will go on sale in 2023 and will be offered in both hatchback and station wagon versions.

Bugatti has announced a new extreme version of the Chiron. They did so at Quail, at this year’s prestigious Monterey Car Week. Dubbed the Bolide, it is a car with a name that is as cliché as its design. "But didn’t Bugatti take the wraps off of the Bolide last year?" Well, you’re right. However, the Bolide Super sports car you saw last October was just a concept, and Bugatti has now decided to put the Bolide into production.

The Mercedes GLC is already six years old. Despite going through a facelift in 2019, the mid-size SUV, internally dubbed X253, is due to be replaced. With this in mind, the next-generation GLC was recently spied testing. In fact, the two heavily camouflaged prototypes seem to be in the early stages of development, which means the current GLC will be around at least for another year. That said, even with all the camouflage, we noticed some important details.

Concept cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The Skysphere Concept, which Audi has now digitally unveiled, is unique in more ways than one. It is a massive autonomous open two-seater GT car, that can drive itself.

However, the biggest highlight of this long electric roadster with a soft-top is its ability to change its dimensions on the fly by 9.8 inches. Yes, you heard that right, at the push of a button, the 16-feet long GT extends its length and gets even longer to 17-feet.

What is considered by many to be the ultimate hot hatch – the Honda Civic Type-R – will return for 2023. Many wondered what is to become of the Type-R since the normal version was already announced for 2022. However, thanks to the recent footage, we know that the next hot version of the Civic is on its way. As with most spy shots, the car is still cloaked in camouflage, but we still get a good idea of what to expect.

The BMW 5 Series has long been one of the brand’s most significant models. With nearly 50 years of history and millions sold, the 5er has enjoyed great success. The current G30 generation was recently updated, so it’s not going away in the next couple of years. That said, we’ve already seen spy footage of the next generation BWM 5 Series, set to debut around 2024. This is what we know so far.

French automaker, Hopium, has made its very first hydrogen-electric prototype. It has also begun accepting orders. Because of its potential to store energy in a transportable form, hydrogen is shaping up to be a hot area in the renewable energy game. It will, however, be a difficult proposition, since there were only 553 hydrogen-filling outlets throughout the globe at the end of 2020. In other words, hydrogen isn’t exactly readily available just yet.