Cars (and 1 Bike) We’re Excited About: A List
In our recent staff lists, we’ve looked back at some of our favorite attributes of cars over the years, and we’ve enjoyed seeing your responses, too. This week, we’re taking a forward-looking approach and sharing what we’re eagerly anticipating in the automotive world to come. A couple of us couldn’t contain ourselves to one pick, and we’re sure you have plenty as well. Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the next year or two in the comments!
Lotus Type 135
“I’m being cautiously optimistic about Lotus’ upcoming model, dubbed the Type 135. It will be electric (meh), but also competitively priced and really nice to look at. It will also be interesting to see how Lotus can combine an EV drivetrain with the compact, light and simple platforms for which the company has always been known and, in my opinion, should never stray away from.” – Andrew Newton
GM halo cars, plus a more practical choice
“The response of uber-luxury buyers to Cadillac’s Celestiq will be interesting to watch; as a handbuilt-to-order car, it’s an ambitious attempt to return to Cadillac as The Standard of the World. The red-white-and-blue American in me would love to see a U.S. brand reclaim that sort of prestige. As a Corvette fan, I’m marking my calendar for the C8 ZR1 reveal: Are we going to see a twin turbo, flat-plane-crank powertrain? My wall of car posters and brochure cut-outs in high school included a C6 ZR1, and the C8 version sounds like another poster-worthy Vette.
However, as a customer who has to stick to a budget, Toyota has my full attention: Not only is it killing the game with thoughtful (long awaited) updates to the trucks and SUVs that made its name and line its pockets, it has an eye on passion projects, too, especially the crazy-go-nuts hatchback that is the GR Corolla. Rumor has it that the GR86—which I seriously considered as a daily before going the hot-hatch route and buying a Fiesta ST—will soon be built entirely by Toyota. It could break up with Subaru and move the coupe upmarket, more in the GR Corolla’s $40K price range, which would make room for a cheap ($35K or below) sports car with a turbo-four. Who knows if such a car will materialize, but if so, that’s something I’d buy.” – Grace Houghton
An EV Sport Sedan?
“After seeing an Ioniq 5 N in person, I can’t wait for all those N goodies to be applied to a not-crossover EV. The Ioniq 6 in N-spec would be amazing, I just hope there’s enough growth in the EV market to ensure Hyundai is interested in making this sports sedan with super car performance.” – Sajeev Mehta
The 2026 F1 grid
“I took this question in a bit of a different direction—I am excited to see 2026’s F1 cars in action. The new rule set has plenty to be excited about—smaller size and no more DRS, for example—as well as a few head-scratchers that I’m curious how teams will navigate.
New rules often means that one team figures it out while the rest have to catch up, and as we’ve seen that can be bad for racing. That said, there’s been so much shuffling among drivers and staff in the lead-up to these new regs, watching how all the teams play out the new hands they’ve dealt themselves will be quite the spectacle. The cars will be shaped by all of that.” – Eddy Eckart
The answer is always…
“Not sure when it will be, but I’m most excited about the next-gen Miata. With every generation of the car, Mazda has managed to make it both better and intrinsically linked to the original brief. This upcoming version will, likely, be the first hybrid or electric version. That normally would make me nervous, but I’m curious to see how Mazda addresses the engineering and design in a way that still puts driving (and drivers) at the forefront.” – Eric Weiner
KTM 450 Rally Replica
“I’m still a Honda guy at heart, but my KTM 950 Adventure S has opened my eyes to the race-ready brand and gotten me curious about the 2025 KTM 450 Rally Replica.
Designed for the desert special stages, the 450 Rally Replica is a long-haul sand machine that every character of Dune wishes they had access too. Plenty of power from a relatively simple and light 450-cc single that sits in a chassis that incorporates twin fuel tanks for the rear subframe and a nice rally front end with extra wind protection and tech stack for navigation.
It’s total overkill for anything I do, but the idea of a lighter, more aggressive version of my big ADV bike sounds awesome.” – Kyle Smith
Sajeev bonus round: The next TRD Camry is a Hybrid?
“Can I go again? After driving the Brown Crown last year and learning that all new Camrys are hybrids, I cannot wait for the Brown Crown’s “Hybrid Max” 340-horse turbo-infused powertrain to make its way into an actual performance vehicle: A Camry TRD hybrid.
The TRD Camry with Hybrid Max would surprise a lot of people. This is all hopes and dreams at this point, but come on, it’s all parts bin and a shared platform…how could it NOT happen?” – Sajeev Mehta
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An e NE Miata. That may finally make me replace my NA!
Not me.
It is a pity Hagerty Insurance doesn’t share Hagerty Media’s enthusiasm for the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. I was told it wasn’t the sort of vehicle they insure (but they will for brand-new Camaros, Corvettes, etc.).
EVs have a ton of inherent risk to insurers.
Most won’t tell you this, but when we called our top tier, well known insurance company about an EV – they had many questions, with the bottom line of – if we parked AND charged it indoors, our auto insurance and homeowners premiums would increase. Because of our suburban location and close proximity of houses, we were advised to increase our liability exposure to $1 Million. Your results may vary.
I have USAA. They didn’t raise any of those concerns for my EV.
I have NJM and they have no problem with the EV I have. I checked with three other insurance companies and none of them had a problem with the EV in our garage. Just more anti-EV rumors.
Well, here in Canada the Ioniq has gained recent fame due to the cost of the battery. There have been more than one story about electric transportation being excessively expensive to repair. I’m not talking about their penchant for bursting into flames and burning down homes and car parks. I’m talking about a couple of stories of owners of that very Hyundai suffering limited damage to the undersides of their cars resulting in the need for full battery replacement at around $50K resulting in complete write-offs for these cars that otherwise look to be fine. Canadian insurers (especially our government run ones like the Insurance corp. of BC) do insure these cars as it is mandatory in Canada to carry insurance are not very fond of these wheeled appliances. I imagine Hagerty being a private company is fully aware of the risks of insuring such things. https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/12/11/hyundai-ev-battery-icbc-cost/
The Caddy looks like an updated Jensen Interceptor.
Any info on the 2025 Chevy Nova SS?6.2 litre?
I am one of the first to own the IONIQ 5 N. Absolutely amazing vehicle. It does everything well and can hold it’s own against some of the most prestigious super-cars at half the price.
Sajeev
I share your enthusiasm, but is there a market for a fun sedan daily driver.
Yes, we’ll always have BMWs but I’m referring to regular market cars. Not talking about young guys who can really use a sports coupe, or sports car.
I’m not a gloom and doom guy who thinks young people aren’t interested, but I wonder if regular folks balancing high interest rates, inflation, fuel prices, food costs and taxes, are really going to spend an extra few thousand to take a Camry to the next level?
Right now, people seem to be pragmatic, and if they have a “semi-toy” (something fun but has to work too), I see them buying a Bronco, or pickup…(my impressions may be biased because I live in the Northwest where every blue collar guy has a truck, boat or RV).
The current TRD is already aimed at an older (not old) enthusiast and seems very successful; however, a check of Toyota’s website shows the TRD (and any V6 or gas-only models) are gone for 2025. It looks like Toyota plans to try to move TRD buyers upmarket into the Crown Platinum at $55K.
Good luck. I think Toyota overshot the runway here-the BMW 330iX is $48K base. Equally equipped they’d be closer in price, and the BMW probably slower, but at that price most enthusiasts would probably lean toward the BMW cachet.
Where’s the Lucid Air Sapphire? Pretty much the fastest production EV out there and made in the USA.
I recently rented. A 2025 Camry it got 50 miles a gallon the electric motor battery is charged when you break or take your foot off to gas going down hill
No new Chevy Vega or El Camino? Rats.
A GM crew got all charged up about a new Vega as an EV, but with the modified name of VEga. Strangely, the car only ran in reverse.
🤣😂🤣
ZR1 for me is the only really interesting one we know of coming shortly.
EV and sports car are not compatible terms. Going fast and silent in a straight line is one dimensional and without passion or complex drama and endearment. What makes one EV “sports car” different from another? Nothing. When you remove the heart of a V8 Corvette or a Porsche flat 6 or an exotic V10 or V12 you’ve got no soul and a heavy car can only handle mediocre at best.
Tons of EVs chase me (2002 BMW m roadster) in the Santa Monica mountains only to be left behind due to their enormous weight and tire limitations.
Same. My 100 HP RX7 FB can dance around those heavy guys… inertia is wonderful.
The new Toyota Tundra’s design team was out to lunch when that design came through the doors. It is a horrid looking truck, regardless of the features and technology, the truck is ugly.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I realize, but I wholeheartedly agree. As we say in the Army, “looks like ass.”
Sajeev:
Not to dash your dreams, but I don’t think Toyota will find a market for a TRD Camry. Ask yourself: how many Camrys have you seen go 0-60 in less than 15 seconds? In my lifetime, maybe I have seen 5. 😆 It seems to me like Camry owners think redline is 3,000 rpm. Rarely do they hit 2,500. (I’m sure one of those 5 Camry owners reads these posts and will pipe up and try to make a claim that there are more than 5, but no one has ever seen proof.😉) Witness these Google suggestions I got:
Why are Camrys so incredibly slow?
Do Toyota cars have a speed lock?
Is the Toyota Camry’s top speed electronically limited?
Do Toyota Camrys go fast?
Do Camry drivers ever speed?
💀
Google’s brilliant algorithm aside, the previous gen Camry TRD consistently sold for transaction prices above MSRP and some dealerships had waiting lists for them. I would absolutely not trust what the Internet says about people’s love of anything with the TRD emblem.
See my comment above for more, but the TRD appears to be dead for 2025, based on the Toyota website.
Yes, but I wonder for how long. Everything I heard from dealers is that their limited production makes them a hot commodity.
I would get tired of people remarking about my “turd” – and yes, I have heard it said about other people’s TRD’s.
Another article about future vehicles that may or may not materialize. Seems like all we see anymore are stories about vehicles in some future pipeline but very little about new vehicles one can actually see and purchase at a dealership. How many years has it been since the VW Buzz was first teased? Seven, eight? And still no sign of them any time soon in the US.
Just like the “New Beetle”, the Buzz will probably fizzle.
The “new Beetle” went on sale in the US in 1998 and has sold nearly 2 million since. If that’s a “fizzle” what is success to you?
Anything new is not on my horizon. I have no use for expensive, depreciating, overly complex (and rapidly obsolete) computers with four wheels.
Agree
Toyota has built Hybrid cars for many years, and dosen’t seem to have the electrical fire issues as some of the other makes you know nothing 50 or more miles to the gallon and Toyota reliability in a full size car