Aug 2019
New Vehicle Releases on the Horizon Offer Intrigue, Excitement, and of Course, Electricity
It’s been a great year for new vehicle releases. Throughout 2019 we’ve been gifted some great new vehicle releases, such as the Jeep Gladiator, Corvette C8, the return of the Trailblazer, Blazer, and Toyota Supra, a whole array of new Lincoln SUVs, and many more.
With all this action it’d be easy to project 2020 and 2021 as a time for mid-model refreshes and a lackluster lineup of new releases. But based on what manufacturers are saying, that will not be the case. There are more than enough options to choose from, but we wanted to focus on the ones generating the most buzz. As you can imagine, electric vehicles make up a large portion of the forthcoming releases, though there are still some very intriguing internal combustion engines on the way as well.
Ford Bronco Teaser Image
Ford Bronco
The natural starting point in regards to getting the most buzz, the Ford Bronco. The Bronco is set to be revived after being discontinued back in 1996. While news and speculation surrounding the upcoming release has been rampant to say the least, Ford has done a remarkable job of keeping the majority of the details under wraps. Similar to the vehicles the Bronco is being released to battle, it will have doors and a roof panel that are removable. Once key difference is that the mirrors will reportedly be mounted on the A-pillar, meaning you’ll still have mirrors when the doors are off.
The Bronco will be built on the same platform has the revived Ranger and should come with an optional manual transmission. There’s also a so-called “Baby Bronco” on the way. The test mule for this smaller version has been spotted out and about, but any worthwhile photos of the actual Bronco are nonexistent.
1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
Tesla, Ford, Rivian, Fisker, and presumably many more are currently on the way. This brand-new segment will be interesting to watch as models begin to debut. How will pricing vary? What will towing capabilities be? What will the different ranges be, and how will they be impacted when towing? There are still countless unanswered questions, but that doesn’t stop the intrigue.
Elon Musk claimed the Telsa pickup cost less than $50,000 and be better than an F-150. Ford just towed 1.25M pounds with an electric F-150 prototype. Rivian has stated that their R1T will have a range of up to 400 miles and a 0-60 of 3 seconds.
The race is on to the be first to market, but even the first may have trouble grabbing the market share as consumers know there are plenty more options will be soon to follow.
Rivian R1T Pickup
Electric Pickup Trucks
Tesla, Ford, Rivian, Fisker, and presumably many more are currently on the way. This brand-new segment will be interesting to watch as models begin to debut. How will pricing vary? What will towing capabilities be? What will the different ranges be, and how will they be impacted when towing? There are still countless unanswered questions, but that doesn’t stop the intrigue. The race is on to the be first to market, but even the first may have trouble grabbing the market share as consumers know there are plenty more options will be soon to follow.
Ford Mach E Teaser Image
Ford Mach E
An electric Mustang-based crossover…Need we say more? The Mach E nameplate has not been confirmed yet, but rumors point to that being a finalist. The cues it’ll borrow from the Mustang include the three-bar taillights and a fastback roofline, presumably among others.
Ford is projecting the crossover to have a range of 300 miles, which seems to be the current standard for the EV world. This also indicates a battery similar to the 100-kWh power source that the Tesla Model S 100D utilizes, meaning it should be able to get up and go. Being that it’s a Mustang-based design, it damn well better.
Polestar 1
Polestar Brand Vehicles
A Volvo offshoot, Polestar is an intriguing endeavor. With two vehicles currently in their portfolio, the Polestar 1 and 2, they look to join the EV game. The Polestar 1 is a plug-in hybrid coup with two electric motors driving the rear wheels and a gas engine that drives the front, generating a 600-hp. The Polestar 2 is a 100% electric 5-door fastback with an estimated range of 275 miles.
The Polestar business model also adds some intrigue, as their primary focus is on subscription-based “ownership.” In their words, “The cars will be offered as an all-inclusive single monthly payment, aiming to take the hassle out of traditional vehicle ownership.” The monthly fee will cover pickup and delivery, maintenance, insurance, roadside, and presumably more.
VW ID Buzz
VW ID Buzz
A fully electric VW bus is on the way in the form of the ID Buzz. We’ll have to wait a while for this one, as the ID Buzz is not set for production until 2022. The Buzz will follow suit with VW’s other EV concept, the Crozz, in that it will utilize the Modular Electric Drive kit. This group of components and chassis parts helps to maximize electric drive technology. The electric motors are expected to make 369-hp, while allowing for a range of nearly 300 miles. There’s still plenty to hash out over the next couple years, but the fact that the micro bus is making a return is enough to keep us interested until then.
Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y
The Model Y has been on the horizon for some time now. Although smaller than the Model X, the Model Y still has the capability of being equipped with a 3rd row and the AWD crossover has a projected range of 300 miles.
As with all Tesla’s, the acceleration is quick, with the performance model coming in at 3.5s for 0-60. Production of the Performance model is set to begin in 2020, while the standard version is queued for 2021. At one of Tesla’s 14,000 superchargers, a 15-minute recharge will provide 168 miles of range. Not bad.
Genesis GV80 Concept
Genesis GV80
Still in the concept stage, the GV80 would be Genesis’ introductory entry into the SUV segment. If it’s anything like their sedans, the styling will be a seamless blend of elegance and aggressiveness. The fact that this is a concept means many of the details should be taken lightly, but the automaker just confirmed that they’re targeting early 2020 for its US release, so we won’t have to wait too long. The GV80 will be followed by a compact SUV in the GV70, which is being targeted for 2021.
Ferrari GT4 Lusso
Ferrari Purosangue
While it is crazy expensive and out of reach for all but the one-percenters, how could we not include this Ferrari Crossover on here? Following the lead of Lamborghini, Maserati, and Bentley, Ferrari is working on their own crossover model.
The expected starting MSRP for one of these high-end rides? Somewhere north of $300,000. While we don’t have an image, or even a teaser of the Purosangue, why not take a look that Ferrari’s first 4-seater to get an appreciation of how beautifully they can integrate their styling into something that isn’t a traditional supercar.
Cadillac Escala Concept
Cadillac Escala
Still in the early concept stages, the Escala made its debut at Pebble Beach way back in 2016. Since then, the stunning concept has only gained momentum towards production. While the concept is powered by a 4.2L V8, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a smaller, turbo-charged engine as an option as a means of increasing fuel economy. It would be built on the CT6 platform and pricing would theoretically start in the six-figure range. Production is not expected to begin until late 2021, but nothing is set in stone at this point.
Bollinger B1
Bollinger Motors
Coming in as off-road specialists for the EV world, the Bollinger vehicles are quite different than anything we’ve seen. These rugged, utilitarian vehicles come in the form of a B1 SUV and B2 pickup truck. The B1 is said to produce 614-hp, 668 lb.-ft. of torque, and have a 200 mile range. The B2 matches the B! in horsepower, torque and range, and delivers a towing capacity of 7,500lbs. These vehicle will not be for everyone, and we’re not sure of pricing at this point, but while they may never be called beautiful, they surely do look like the off-road specialists they were designed to be. The two vehicles are scheduled to make their debuts at the end of next month on Sept. 26th.
