The site is kicking off in earnest with what will become a regular segment here. While many other automotive sites I love have annual or even daily top ten lists, I'm taking a page from Spinal Tap's book and cranking it up a notch. Well, two notches, to twelve primarily because of alliteration with "Tuesday." In the future, I'm hoping to get your help populating these lists because there's way more to the automotive world than a one or more could hope to know about.
This week, since we've all just flipped our calendars to 2016, I've compiled a list of the 12 cars I'm looking forward to most this year. While they may not make their full debut or find a spot on dealership lots, these are the cars that I can't wait to take a ride in. Let me know what you think and what's on your radar for 2016!
12 Acura NSX
The original NSX was such a huge part of my youth, and still remains a car I hope to own, or at least drive, at some point in my life. So why then is the new model so low on this list? We've been hearing about this car for five years now, and try as they might to stir up interest in the new car, Acura really bungled the new NSX's launch and it's just hard to get excited about it anymore. That said, a reliable supercar with 570+ hp and all-wheel drive, plus the nostalgia for the first generation earn it a place in our top 12.
11 Volvo V90
Spy shot courtesy of Teknikens Vaerld
As we've seen with the new XC90, it took Volvo a while to catch up with the rest of the automotive world, design-wise, but they're making up for lost time in a hurry. Not all gearheads subscribe to the church of Wagon, but I certainly do and Volvo is one of the last bastions of hope for individuals longing for a beautiful family hauler that puts a smile on your face when you stamp on the pedal. The base V90, set for a 2017 release date, might not be that car, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for a Polestar version.
10 Infiniti QX30
Mercedes guts and Infiniti design make for an eagerly anticipated vehicle. Again, this might be a bit because of sentimentality since I loved my G35 coupe so dearly, but Infinitis tend to check all the boxes for me. That said, it will be interesting to see how the technical relationship with Mercedes-Benz works out, since their modern motors are not at all known for their reliability.
9 Jaguar XE
Speaking of unreliable but attractive, British cars! I'm in love with recent Jags, with the XF, XK and F-Type really pushing all the right buttons and making all the right sounds. The introduction of a car that's more reasonably priced without sacrificing the scaldingly good looks (and preserving even some of the performance) of its stablemates earns the XE a great deal of anticipation.
8 Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental Concept vehicle. I assume they'll add door handles.
Having fun in cars doesn't necessarily mean you need to be going super fast. Sometimes it's nice to be coddled in a comfortable, capable vehicle with style for miles and that's exactly what the Lincoln Continental Concept has promised. Due for a 2017 release, we'll likely see the finished goods and maybe even get a chance to take a peak at Ford's vision of the "quiet luxury" it seeks to instill in its Lincoln brand.
7 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Is the answer always Miata? While I'm not particularly bowled over by its looks or practicality, there's a special place in my heart for small red convertibles, my first car having been one. By all accounts it drives fantastically and really gets at the heart of the "there's no greater pleasure than driving a slow car fast" mentality. I'm certain the looks will grow on me as I inevitably see these all over the twisty back roads this year.
6 Cadillac ATS-V / CTS-V
There are few things better than going fast and being ultra-comfortable while doing so. The upcoming Cadillac Vs certainly seem to fulfill both promises, and previous generation CTS-Vs have been a truly outstanding experience to drive. Here's hoping we can all get behind the wheels of these two this year and say just how far Detroit has come recently.
5 Ford Focus RS
It's a road-going rally car with a hatchback and strikingly good looks. We know it'll be fast. We know it will handle like it's on rails. This sort of affordable speed is mercifully becoming more common and The Focus RS promises to put a smile on your face every time you hop behind the wheel.
4 Volkswagen Golf R
Basically take almost everything about the Focus RS, then put it in a more subtle package with a nicer interior and you have the Golf R. No, it's not quite that simple, but the Golf/GTI has been a perennial winner as one of the best inexpensive cars to drive, and the hottest R version to come in 2016 will raise the bar even higher. That is, if Volkswagen hasn't been lying to us about their non-diesel cars too.
3 Porsche Cayman GT4
Shove one of Porsche's biggest engines in their smallest hardtop car, add 220 lbs of downforce and some clever technology first use on the race track and you have the 183mph bullet known as the Porsche Cayman GT4. The Cayman S has long posed a serious problem to 911 buyers since it was so good for less money, and Porsche seems committed to making that choice even harder. It may be more at home on the autobahn than the school run, but the GT4 will set new benchmarks for Porsches to come.
2 Shelby GT350
"This isn't just about horsepower," said Ford Product Development Vice President Raj Nair. Yeah, but when you have 500, coupled with 400 lb ft of torque coming from an aurally orgasmic-sounding flat-plane V8, it probably could've been just about the horsepower and people would've lined up. The current Mustang is, I think, one of the best looking of all time, and Ford's finally getting the interior bits right too, I think the GT350 is going to be one of the very best cars this year.
1 Tesla Model 3
Unofficial render
Just as the Roadster and Model S have been revolutionary vehicles in their own right, the Model 3, due to be announced in March of this year, figures to bring the revolution to the people. With an asking price of $35,000, Tesla and Elon Musk likely have several years yet to build up economies of scale to ensure the car can actually cost that much without encountering the massive powertrain problems plaguing the first generation Model S, but anticipate a huge, huge waiting list for what will surely be an exciting new dawn for many new petrolheads. Well, whatever we'll call them in the future.
Thanks for reading!
Authored by
Devlin Riggs