These are fast-moving, transformative times for the car industry, but do not fear, GQ is here to serve up the best new cars on a regular basis. Whether you’re navigating your way through the highly charged new electric landscape, falling for a fashionable classic, or want to get a load of the latest Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche, we have access all areas – to the cars that count, the people who create them, and the culture that sustains them. This is the GQ edit of the best new cars of 2024.
Boreham Motorworks Ford Escort Mk1 RS
Forget restomod, say hello to “continumod”. The difference? This is new from the ground up, and therefore doesn’t require a donor vehicle. The company behind it is also a licensed Ford partner so it’s officially sanctioned, which helps. The original Escort arrived in 1968 and swiftly spawned various lively road-going versions and all-conquering competition cars. The “new” one is kind of an AI incarnation, created using the original blueprints, laser scanning, and modern chassis stress analysis tests, all in the service of delivering what the team behind it calls “peak analogue”. The more advanced cars become, the more there’s an audience hungry for the opposite. Not that this Escort is lacking in engineering sophistication. Customers can choose between two engines: a reworked version of the original 1.8-litre, or a new competition-spec 2.1-litre engine that produces almost 300bhp and can rev to 10,000rpm. As the whole thing only weighs 800kg, these are numbers that we can definitely get behind. Only 150 cars are planned for production, with prices starting at £295,000.
Ineos Grenadier Le Tech
Shaving tenths off a lap time on a racing circuit is one way of getting your kicks. Hardcore off-roading is another. It lowers the tempo drastically, sometimes to walking pace. But when you’ve managed to clamber up and over a giant rock – or an Icelandic volcano in our case – the buzz is just as real as taking a fifth gear corner at full beans. Adventuring is one of the reasons Britain’s second richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, decided to build his own off-roader. The Ineos Grenadier is the result, largely unstoppable in standard form, utterly indomitable when tricked out with German company Le Tech’s formidable “portal axle”. This raises its ground clearance and wading depth substantially, enhancing its ability to tackle the toughest off-road terrain. It also turns the deliberately utilitarian Grenadier into the sort of quasi-monster truck no self-respecting tech bro will want to be without come the apocalypse. They won’t bat an eye at the price either: you’ll need around £200k for one these, and you can go crazy optioning it up beyond that.
Lamborghini Revuelto
The first cars are now arriving in the UK, a useful opportunity for us to get acquainted for a few days. No Italian sunshine, no race-track action, but plenty of reality in the shape of kerbs, potholes and dithering traffic. And it’s still magnificent. This is a hybrid with two e-motors on the front axle and a third behind the cabin where the gearbox used to be. That’s now bolted to the rear of the engine, and it’s much smoother shifting than the one used on the old Aventador. The Revuelto is utterly dominated by its naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 combustion engine, which on its own ponies up 814bhp, with a further 187 thrown into the mix by the e-motors. Do the math, as they say: 1001bhp. All of which results in a car of maximum aural drama and intergalactically high performance – 0-62mph takes just 2.5 seconds. It’s big and imposing, but that mighty powertrain is cradled by a carbon fibre chassis and the Revuelto rides on semi-active suspension, so it feels bulletproof and handles with the agility of a much smaller car. Could be the best Lamborghini ever, and certainly the biggest game-changer since the Miura that got the ball rolling almost 60 years ago.
Aston Martin Valhalla
Aston Martin’s relentless product onslaught peaks now, with the long-gestating Valhalla. This is the company’s first mid-engined production car, and first hybrid. The star here is an all-new 4.0-litre V8 touting two clever turbos and brainy ignition timing. That makes 817bhp on its own, a trio of electric motors adding 248bhp for an eye-catching total of 1,065bhp. Like the Revuelto, it’s also all-wheel drive, except that here the power distribution is done by a vehicle dynamics control system for torque vectoring and trick brake application. The Valhalla also uses a carbon tub but weighs 120kg less than its Italian rival, at a claimed 1,655kg. There’s also an F1 influence in the front suspension design and in the rear wing’s DRS function, as well as numerous drive modes, and a clear visual through line to the extraordinary Valkyrie. This is a very, very pretty car. Only 999 will be made, with prices starting at £850k.
Bentley Batur
Another one on our ‘to do’ list but worth waiting for. Not least because there are only 18 Baturs in existence and they cost £2m each. The chances of ever seeing one are vanishingly slim so testing one out is classic one-upmanship. The Batur is based on the outgoing Continental W12 Speed, so it’s propelled by a 6.0-litre combustion engine with 12 enormous cylinders, two turbos, and a 730bhp power output. No hybrid here. But that’s secondary to the svelte body, the work of Bentley’s long-standing coachbuilding arm, Mulliner. It’s hand-built, uses lots of carbon fibre and has a pair of ‘spines’ that accelerate the car’s form into an almost nautical rear end. The perfect accompaniment to the super-yacht. Inside, the organ stop vents and drive selector surround feature 3D-printed 18-carat gold, and there are magnificent armchairs where you’d expect seats. Bentley’s audio partner is British specialist Naim, and the Batur features its ear-poppingly good top-tier system. That accounts for £50k of the overall cost…
Callum C-X75
Ian Callum describes it as the “one that got away”. If the C-X75 looks kinda familiar it's because you recognise it as the car with which the villainous Mr Hinx pursued 007 through central Rome in 2015’s Spectre. Having given Bond a bespoke Aston Martin for that outing, the producers elected to dust down a Jaguar that had been slated for production in 2011 but was then parked amidst an economic downturn. Williams Advanced Engineering brought the C-X75 to life for the film but now its original designer has realised a fully-finished car for a client. It helps that Callum’s own design agency is now at full tilt, with in-house engineering, software experts, and a list of impressive suppliers. So there’s a new aerodynamics package, traction control, and the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 is hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Jaguar is limbering up for a dramatic full-scale reboot, but this side hustle from its former design director still hits hard.
Scout Traveller
Volkswagen has proven an astute guardian of fallen brands over the years, and has revived the likes of Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini. Scout, though? That was an odd purchase, made a few years ago, Scout being a square-cut off-roader launched by farm machinery maker International Harvester back in 1961. “Create something to replace the horse” was the instruction to designer, Ted Ornas. The result can lay claim to being the first SUV, a heritage the new Scout invokes. It wades into the all-electric pick-up and truck territory patrolled by start-up Rivian and Ford’s F-150 Lightning, and has the same irresistibly chunky aesthetic. Nods to the original include the kicked-up rear window and split tailgate. Expect a dual motor set-up with lots of torque. SUV diehards rejoice.
Rolls-Royce Phantom ‘Goldfinger’
The 60th anniversary of the first genuinely blockbuster Bond movie was unlikely to slip by unnoticed by key automotive participants. Aston Martin has already commemorated Goldfinger with a special edition DB12; now Rolls-Royce has presented a tribute to the 1937 Phantom II driven by the titular villain, Auric Goldfinger. Rolls is very hot on personal commissions for its clients and this one has some spectacular elements. Rather than a conventional fascia the Phantom has a gallery, and here it’s inscribed with a 3D map of the Furka Pass. That, of course, is the Swiss mountain road along which Bond followed Goldfinger. Rolls-Royce also offers the option of ‘starlight headlining’, a twinkling fibre-optic constellation set into the car’s roof. Here it replicates what was going on in the night sky above the Furka Pass on July 11th 1964, the final day of shooting the sequence for the film. Or how about the gold bar hidden in a secret vault in the centre console? Well, obviously.
Ferrari F80
This is a major power move by Ferrari, the car maker that’s so desired it transcends automotive to sit with the giants of the luxury goods world. The F80 follows game-changers such as the F40, F50 and LaFerrari in the company’s once-in-a-decade journey into the hypercar realm. Which means that all eyes are on this one, attention lasering in on two key areas. Firstly, there’s the way it looks. Ferrari’s chief design officer Flavio Manzoni has one of the toughest jobs in the business, maintaining the company’s tradition and track record in delivering amazing looking cars while being proudly progressive and future-focused. From some angles the F80 is blocky and almost brutalist, a riposte to Italy’s untouchable history in sensual sports cars. There are sci-fi influences in the mix, and references to Ferrari racing cars from 50 years ago. But it all adds up to something you can’t take your eyes off, as well as being hugely effective aerodynamically.
Then there’s the powertrain, which leans into current F1 and endurance racing tech by using a 3.0-litre, twin turbocharged and hybridised V6 engine, which is at least six cylinders too few by some people’s reckoning. We don’t have a problem: the F80 produces a total of 1183bhp, can accelerate to 62mph in 2.1 seconds, and drips with the latest and highest tech. It costs £3.1m and only 799 are being made. All were sold long before the car was even announced. Mic dropped.
Batmobile Tumbler
The man in question has driven, if that’s the word, a number of different cars across a myriad television and movie incarnations. But the definitive Batmobile is surely the Tumbler that Christopher Nolan’s team devised for The Dark Knight trilogy. Now you can own one, courtesy of, yes, Wayne Enterprises, a co-venture set up by a division of Warner Bros. and Relevance International, to explore, says Warner Bros’ Robert Oberschelp, a way of bringing “our world-renowned DC licences to life for fans through captivating experiences and products.” In this case, the opportunity of acquiring a replica of the Tumbler for $2.99m. Although Nolan was initially reticent about featuring a Batmobile, the dirty realism of his reboot gave special effects supervisor Chris Corbould and production designer Nathan Crowley scope to reimagine the vehicle along functionally militaristic lines. The replica’s body is made of Kevlar, carbon fibre, and fibreglass, and uses a GM 6.2-litre V8. Features include a smokescreen delivery system, mock gun turrets, and one-way mirrored glass. There are no missile launchers, and it’s not road-legal. It is, however, the ultimate full-size toy. On which basis, sales are by invitation only.
DS SM Tribute
DS is the fashion-forward luxury diffusion line from Citroën, arguably the most eccentric car maker of all. The early '70s SM coupe is a back catalogue highlight from an era in which car designers took as much inspiration from the space race and film director Stanley Kubrick’s vision as anything earthbound. The SM Tribute’s name is on-the-nose but this is otherwise a glorious reimagining of the beloved smooth-riding and visually daring original. There are diamond-tipped light clusters, an evocative two-tone ‘Gold Leaf’ colour scheme, and the SM’s rear wheelarch spats are now partially uncovered. “Our dream is to be the Louis Vuitton of the automotive industry,” design boss Thierry Métroz tells GQ. “It might take years, it might never happen, but there will be more design inspiration in the next generation of cars. Our history is what separates us from the new wave of Chinese cars.” And it won’t be alone. Next year sees the 70th anniversary of the original DS saloon, widely regarded as the greatest ever example of car design.
Bentley Continental GT Speed
The fact is, EVs are pricey and people still aren’t buying the dream. So the hybrid solution is front and centre right now, a bridge between a world that needs to change and one we’re not quite ready for. Bentley is preparing a fully electric car but the new Continental GT Speed, the most powerful production car the company has ever made, makes a potent case for hybridisation. Coupled to a new 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 is an electric motor, this duo delivering a total power output of 771bhp. The 25.9 kWh battery can be plugged in and fully charged in under three hours, but it also self-charges very effectively on the move depending on the mode you’re in. As the car’s chief engineer pointed out, Bentley’s customers don’t regard plugging a car in as an especially luxurious experience. The GT Speed will do around 50 miles in e-mode, but the electric motor is also there to boost the car’s overall performance – adding torque to obviate any turbo lag. At 2.5 tonnes it’s a heavy machine but it disguises its mass and has the agility of a much smaller, lighter car. Prices start at £236,600.
Meyers Manx v2.0
It’s not here – not just yet. But plans for an electric reboot of the original Dune Buggy, as it was widely known, are in the final stages. That was conceived by the late Bruce Meyer, a boat builder, engineer and surfer who knew which way the wind was blowing in Sixties counter-culture California. A simple fibreglass tub was harnessed to VW Beetle mechanicals, success in the Mexican 1000 rally (precursor to the fabled Baja) soon followed, and when Steve McQueen drove a souped-up one in 1968’s Thomas Crown Affair, the deal was sealed. GQ drove that exact car in an 80-strong parade of Manxes at the recent Goodwood Revival, but although you can have a ‘new’ example right now, powered by a 2.0-litre engine from Australian specialist Radial Motion, it’s the EV version we’re really waiting for (promising a range of up to 300 miles). The irrepressible visuals have been updated by former Ford and VW designer Freeman Thomas, and its appearance in Forza Horizon 5 has given it renewed cultural cachet. Steve who?
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
An appreciation of its history is pretty vital to understanding Alfa Romeo. But what if you’ve never heard of the pre-war 8C or the late '60s 33 Stradale? The current Giulia is a four-door saloon battling market indifference but we can confirm it’s also an absolute gem. Especially in Quadrifoglio guise, in which the visuals are lightly pumped, the wheels enlarged, the overall stance more meaningful. Nuanced then, but also a rocket ship, thanks to a mesmerising 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 engine, developed by a team of former Ferrari engineers, and making a sizzling 513bhp. The QF now also uses a mechanical rather than electronic differential to liberate even more entertainment from its brilliant chassis. There’s a new 12.3in digital instrument set-up inside and a few other mild interior mods, but nothing to write home about. The rest of it, though, is world class.
Kimera 037
This update of the '80s world rally championship-winning Lancia 037 is constantly evolving. GQ recently got reacquainted and can confirm that the Kimera driving experience is more vivid than ever. Utilising parts of the Beta Monte Carlo (Clarkson’s ride in the last episode of The Grand Tour) with unique chassis components and a powertrain overseen by Italian engineering legend Claudio Lombardi (ex-Lancia and Scuderia Ferrari), the 037 is restomod royalty alongside Singer. Those guys’ rep rests on insane attention to detail and quality of execution. Kimera has pulled off the same trick, from the exposed mechanism on the gearbox to the fit and finish in the Alcantara-trimmed interior. The power unit might only be 2.1-litres in size and have four cylinders but it punches very hard indeed. It also makes an extraordinary racket. Three different engine maps cleverly meter out the horsepower, but the full 550bhp makes for the most intense driving experience this side of a Ferrari F40. All 37 have been sold, but Kimera is working on an all-wheel drive 038 version.
Lamborghini Temerario
The Temerario has been fighting a rear-guard action since the moment it dropped. Despite having an all-new 4.0-litre engine that delivers 907bhp and being red-lined at 10,000rpm, this Lambo is now turbocharged and hybridised. Yep, there are two electric motors on the front axle and one between the engine and gearbox, feeding a 3.8kWh lithium ion battery. Lamborghini promises a top speed of 211mph and zero to 62 in 2.7 seconds. Nothing wrong with any of that, except that the outgoing, naturally aspirated and V10-powered Huracán made the greatest noise of pretty much any car ever. Lamborghini promises sonic fireworks from the Temerario, just of a slightly different timbre. And like all the best Lamborghinis, the exterior design locates the sweet spot between aero-driven efficiency and outrageous visual theatre.
Eccentrica Diablo
If the Temerario is too slickly digital, the Lamborghini faithful can always seek solace in the early Nineties Diablo. That’s a big old slice of 20th century supercar right there, and a reminder of how far things have come in 30 years. Italian businessman and racing driver Emanuel Colombini figured modern tech could iron out some of the original’s foibles and started Eccentrica to build this hugely compelling restomod. Milanese design agency BorromeodaSilva has reworked the exterior and interior, using the late-period GT and GTR versions as the jumping-off point. The body panels are made of carbon composite, and there are new ducts, scoops and a dramatic air box to feed an upgraded 5.7-litre V12. Contemporary software and electronics give the chassis some manners, there’s a six-speed manual gearbox and a fully digital instrument display for ironic Eighties vapourwave vibes. Only 19 will be made, priced from €1.3m.
Nilu 27
Sasha Selipanov is a car designer and professional extrovert, a man for whom Bugatti and Koenigsegg weren’t crazy enough to contain his imagination. “I’ve always had a vision for a back-to-the-roots all analogue hypercar, with a ‘holy shit’ factor,” the man says. Nilu is a combination of his daughters’ names, the 27 a homage to the number favoured by the great Ferrari F1 driver, Gilles Villeneuve. And the result? A hypercar fever dream, in which a bespoke 6.5-litre V12 (from New Zealand specialist Hartley Engines) is cradled in a carbon tub and supported by aluminium alloy subframes. There’s also a 12-into-one exhaust with triple Inconel tips, brakes by Brembo and the obligatory Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. Sasha’s vision is very much DIY, in every sense, because this thing will demand full driver input. Nilu plans 15 launch editions, and a further 54 cars. New old, or old new? We can’t decide but we love the pitch.
Tuthill Porsche GT One
We wonder what the mothership makes of it all. Somewhere north of 20 companies worldwide currently generate very good business indeed creating low-volume, high spec specials based on the Porsche 911. The UK-based Tuthill is one of the best but has seriously branched out with the GT One. This is a note-perfect tribute to '90s-era Le Mans endurance racers, designed by artist and multi-disciplinary creative, Florian Flatau. Porsche made a handful of barely road legal GT Ones back in the day to comply with the FIA’s homolgation rules, but this thing promises greater civility and accessibility. Its carbon fibre body and aero configuration are accurate facsimiles, both the front and rear ends lifting like giant clamshells. Power comes from a Tuthill-fettled 4.0-litre flat six that makes more than 500bhp in standard form, 600-plus in the optional turbo package. Each one takes 3500 hours to manufacture and 22 are planned. Prices are not quoted but think deep into seven figures for this one.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The harder car makers pivot towards electrification, the more desirable an analogue escape route looks. But the future is undoubtedly electric and Audi’s new Q6 e-tron is an exemplar in almost every respect. It’s underpinned by a new architecture – known internally as PPE – which it shares with the new Porsche Macan. So there’s a greater emphasis on refinement and dynamism here. In Quattro form it has a dual motor set-up that makes a total of 382bhp, and uses lots of clever tech in its set-up to maximise efficiency. Stay clean and serene and 3.5 miles per kWh is possible, but tap into the bountiful performance and you’ll decimate the range. Really, though, this is a giant piece of gadgetry as much as it is a car, and with a 11.9in virtual cockpit and a 14.9in infotainment screen, driving feels like the distraction rather than the other way round. Priced from £63,420, the Q6 e-tron is seductively seamless. But how long before we get a restomod reboot of the original Eighties Quattro?
Polestar BST concept
The ensoulment of the electric car is a significant challenge. Plenty offer intergalactic acceleration but even that can become one-dimensional. Where does the character come from? Polestar’s CEO Thomas Ingenlath is a former car designer so this (Chinese-owned) Swedish brand has a more fully realised aesthetic than most, and an appreciable tactility. Now the Concept BST turns the heat up a bit. It’s based on the Polestar 6, whose initial run of 500 cars sold out within a week of its confirmation, but adds a wider track, bigger wheel arches and spectacular 22in forged alloy wheels. There’s more aero in the shape of an angry looking front splitter and dramatic rear wing, which sits on a motorsport-inspired swan-neck mounting. The bonnet’s also vented. We’re expecting the real thing to run a dual motor set-up good for more than 850bhp and powered by an 800-volt electrical architecture. BST, by the way, stands for Beast.
Ford Capri
The original Capri arrived at the tail end of the '60s, effectively a European analogue for the all-conquering American Mustang. Now it’s been attached to an all-electric four-door crossover that’s so far away in concept from its low-slung forbear that Ford blew up the internet for 24 hours. And not in a good way. For those who think this is a desecration, remember that Ford’s cars back then were triumphs of marketing above all else, on which basis the new Capri is a masterstroke. It trades swoopy sportiness for a modish monolithic look, and even throws some shade on the Polestar 2. Close to the newly launched Ford Explorer, which is related to VW’s ID4, the Capri will be available in a dual motor guise with 335bhp. Way more power than any road-going old-school Capri ever managed.
Honda Prelude concept
Absent from the UK for most of this century, the Prelude is returning, riding a renewed wave of interest in JDM – Japanese domestic market – machinery among a generation for whom the 1978 original is more myth than car. Honda teased the new car at a motor show 18 months ago, but we’d assumed it was just eye candy. Along with the “Honda 0 Series” that premiered at CES in January, it suggests Japan’s most reliably idiosyncratic car maker has remembered its mission. “We believe personal mobility cannot be without the joy of operating, the joy of driving. That’s our core DNA,” says Prelude project lead Tomoyuki Yamagami. With its domed roof, chunky stance and minimal overhangs, the Prelude coupe has presence. It’s based on the quietly impressive current Civic so it’ll handle sharply, and it’s likely to arrive first with a 2.0-litre, 181bhp hybrid powertrain. It’ll also be the only small coupe available in the UK, so it’s an accidental outlier.
Red Bull RB17
Silverstone, Spa and Suzuka are three of the fastest circuits on the current F1 calendar. Adrian Newey assures us that the new RB17, the 5m-long, £5m track-only spaceship-on-wheels he’s designed, is capable of lapping them as quickly as Max Verstappen’s current RB20. With two people on board… The car is Newey’s farewell gift to the company his technical superpowers have helped steer to dominance for the past 20 years. Only 50 will be made. It’s powered by a Red Bull-spec 4.5-litre V10 engine built by British specialist Cosworth; aided by a small electric motor, the total power output is 1200bhp, and the target weight is sub-900kg. That’s a devastating power-to-weight ratio. This is Newey’s dream project: F1 is governed by complex rules, but the only constraints placed on the RB17 are self-imposed, mostly to do with safety, packaging and the limits of the aerodynamic load you can put through the tyres. So say hello to active suspension – banned in F1 since the mid-'90s – which helps provide ultra-precise control over the chassis dynamics, as well as a lot of very clever software, and levels of downforce only usually experienced by F1 drivers. “My career has always been performance-oriented, so when it comes to aerodynamics you always go with what makes the car faster,” Newey tells GQ. “With this we wanted it to be a more rounded product in terms of the look, sound and the driving experience.”
MG Cyber GTS
MG is an unlikely star of the EV transition, maker of accessibly priced, edgy looking crossovers and SUVs for people who probably only dimly recall the company’s roots in British sports cars. The Cyber GTS makes the connection much more explicitly. Based on the well-received all-electric Cyberster convertible, it’s one of those concepts that looks entirely production feasible. It’s also a calmer, more classically elegant piece of design than the tricksier convertible, as Chinese brands begin to seriously assert themselves. MG is part of the giant SAIC conglomerate, whose design vice president is former BMW and VW group designer, Jozef Kabaň. “You cannot just make retro cars, you cannot just copy and improve,” he says. “You always have to find something new.” The Cyber GTS’s chances of making it into production are surely helped by the fact that the MG B celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, the eternally pretty, quintessentially British coupe that could only dream of the performance the Cyberster’s 77kWh battery and 503bhp dual motor provides.
Defender OCTA
Defender has a new flagship, and it's a diamond. At least, that's what the brand is aiming for with the OCTA, named so in tribute to the stone's strength-enhancing octahedral shape. There's even a new diamond graphic slapped on the OCTA for good measure, but that's far from the biggest upgrade: the 635PS 4.4-litre Twin Turbo V8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission make it the most powerful Defender ever made, with a top speed of 155mph and 0-60 in 3.8 seconds.
The OCTA is also Defender's techiest car to date, designed to be enjoyed on leisurely drives as much as bombing through the undergrowth (because let's be honest: how often do you do that?). The OCTA automatically detects the surface it's being driven on and shifts its settings accordingly, making use of the hydraulic 6D Dynamics suspension. “We have been able to unlock the full potential of Defender,” says Managing Director Mark Cameron. “It is the very definition of breadth of capability, and a testament to what we can achieve utilising the very best technologies and talents within our engineering division.”
Inside, the driver and passenger get to enjoy Body and Soul Seats, developed with music industry experts SUBPAC and Coventry University to offer some extra haptic buzz to your playlists – and provide six wellness programmes. It's a 4x4 spa. See it first at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed from 11-14 July, before it goes on sale, priced from £145,300.
BMW Concept Skytop
BMW’s chief design officer Adrian van Hoydoonk is a clever man who has presided over an era of startling change at the German giant. “Tradition is not about worshipping the ashes but tending the flames of desire,” he once told GQ, paraphrasing Bohemian composer, Gustav Mahler. The Concept Skytop does a bit of both. It’s a classically elegant BMW rather than one designed to ignite a debate, and though based on the current 8 series it’s channelling the ‘50s 503 and the '90s Z8. Though we like the sharky nose and bonnet spine, the Skytop is best appreciated from the rear. Check out the flowing buttresses and the way the interior’s reddish-brown brogue-style leather is picked up in the roll-over bar behind the seats and even continues in the exterior paintwork before smoothly transitioning into a silver finish. Likely heading for limited series production, priced from £400k.
Kia EV3
“It’s more sheer, more strict and restrained,” explains Kia's Karim Habib of the new EV3, a fully electric crossover that promises to transfer the tech used in the EV9 SUV to a smaller canvas. “There is some complexity here, it’s not totally minimalist. Technology is everywhere in Korea, so the robotic feel is a conscious thing. There’s a kind of circuit line here…” That’s in the area where the chamfered bonnet and ultra-slim LED headlights intersect with the vertical day-time running lights. The EV3 sits on a dedicated electric platform which groups the motor, transmission and inverter into a single powertrain. It also has unusually generous interior space, and a distinctly lounge vibe with Netflix and YouTube streaming Apps and built-in gaming. The larger 81.4kWh battery offers 372 mile of range when fully charged.
Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid
As you’d hope from Porsche, the first electrified version of the 911 – called the T-Hybrid – summons a lot of engineering firepower in the service of high performance. A shoebox-sized 1.9 kWh battery mounted beneath the front bulkhead powers two small electric motors, one of which makes 55bhp and is integrated within the dual-clutch gearbox, while the other is used to increase the efficiency of the turbo. This is about erasing lag and improving response rather than reducing CO2 emissions or providing pure e-power. Available initially in GTS form only, the T-Hybrid has a total power output of 534bhp and sits beneath the range-topping Turbo and the competition-oriented GT3. “We produce the energy on board,” says 911 project lead, Frank Moser. “It always recuperates, under acceleration, during braking and on a trailing throttle.”
Alpine GTZ
The Z stands for Zagato, one of the pre-eminent Italian coachbuilders since 1919. A true survivor in a fickle business, the latest limited run special to bear the flamboyant Z logo is based on Alpine’s exceptional little A110 coupe. But it also plunders a lesser known chapter in the French road and racing company’s history for inspiration, namely the late Sixties A220 endurance racer. That one came in short and long-tail guises, for enhanced aerodynamic performance, and the AGTZ does too. It’s quite the party trick. The tail can be bolted on in a few minutes and transforms the look of the car, creating a supreme slice of Franco-Italian garage sculpture. Elsewhere, Zagato has worked its customary magic, rebodying the A110 in carbon fibre and adding a more expressive front end, wheelarch blisters front and rear, and its signature double-bubble roof. Working in collaboration with well-respected Polish supercar dealer La Squadra, only 19 AGTZs will be made, from €650k each.
McLaren Artura Spider
Adding power in the hybrid and electric age isn’t difficult. But doing it while keeping the weight down is a much bigger challenge, and it’s why McLaren refuses to commit to a fully electric car. Batteries are still too heavy and the technology just isn’t good enough yet, according to the company’s engineers. But the Artura is part of the way there, powered by a clever, mid-mounted 3.0-litre combustion engine boosted by an axial flux e-motor fed by a 7.4kWh battery that sits behind the seats. Together they imbue the Artura, newly available in Spider form with a clever electrochromic retractable roof, with a total power output of 690bhp. Naturally this translates to massive performance – 62mph in 3.0 seconds dead is going some – but it’s the way the e-power expands the car’s bandwidth that really gets under your skin. It also gives it a range in electric mode of 21 miles, a useful redoubt around town or when you don’t want to disturb the neighbours. From £221,500
Ferrari 12Cilindri
“Sometimes I was a bit of a pain in the ass,” admits Ferrari’s chief design officer, Flavio Manzoni. With the new 12Cilindri, the pressure is really on because the company’s gigantic reputation is founded on its front-engined 12 cylinder models. These are the connoisseur’s Ferraris. “It’s something you need to experience once in life,” says chief technical officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi, “Otherwise it is not a life.”
The 12Cilindri’s front end is a masterful homage to the late '60s 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The rest of it, though, is bracingly progressive, in both coupe and Spider open-top form. The single-piece bonnet sweeps dramatically into a short, cab-rearward passenger compartment, while the contrast-black roof sweeps down onto a tail that features aviation-inspired active aero. The interior is also all-new, as luxurious as it is sporting and hi-tech.
“This car represents a huge jump in terms of modernity,” explains Manzoni. “This isn’t easy. A Gran Turismo like this is intrinsically elegant and quite traditional, with a long bonnet and short cabin. So the challenge is to introduce a new language on a car with this architecture. It took four years to develop. Form follows function but with an artistic touch. It’s science and art together.”
And keeping the 6.5-litre V12 in production in 2024 is no mean feat, as the regulations become ever tighter, but Ferrari’s clients demand it. This engine is a masterpiece of hard- and software, suffused with F1 tech to reduce weight and improve response, while delivering a maximal soundtrack.
TWR Supercat
Jaguar XJS’s great misfortune was it had to replace the E-type, a car so unutterably beautiful even Enzo Ferrari thought it prettier than some of his cars. It arrived in 1975, with an epically elongated bonnet and unusual flying buttresses, the product of a company in the grip of an industrial near-death spin. But weird things can happen and Jaguar’s suave grand tourer is now a rapidly appreciating asset and object of cult adoration. Enter the TWR Supercat, a limited run super-GT that references one of the XJS’s greatest and most left-field achievements: as a serial winner in Eighties European touring car racing. The cars were prepped and run by a competition outfit called Tom Walkinshaw Racing and the Supercat is the work of his son, Fergus. Various motorsport alumni are involved, as is California-based car whisperer, Magnus Walker. The Supercat’s wild carbon fibre body, the work of young design tyro Khyzyl Saleem, clothes a fully restored XJS chassis and a V12 combustion engine that’ll make around 600bhp. A six-speed manual ’box and rear-wheel drive complete a distinctly old-school analogue recipe. TWR ran Jaguar’s legendary 1988 Le Mans-winning XJR-9, a win referenced in the Supercat’s 88 car production run. Prices start at £270k.
Alfa Romeo Junior
Few car makers enjoy the sort of ceaseless goodwill Alfa Romeo generates. The limited run £2m 33 Stradale hypercar stokes the flames of desire, but Alfa is dead unless it can shift serious units. Enter its first electric car, the Junior. Short, stocky and punchy looking, the Junior attitude to spare. Its abbreviated rear end references the Sixties Giulia TZ more effectively than you’d imagine. There’s a new take on the ‘scudetto’ grille, which comes in ‘leggenda’ or punchy ‘progresso’ versions. The famous Alfa telephone dial wheel design gets a reboot, and the 3+3 headlights are full LED matrix jobs. The electric Junior uses a 54 kWh battery pack, identical to the set-up in the Abarth 600e and Jeep Avenger. It’s available in two variants, with either a 154bhp or 238bhp power output, and a single motor driving the front wheels. Alfa claims a range of 250 miles likely to be closer to 200 IRL. A 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo hybrid is also available.
Pagani Utopia
It’s 25 years since Horacio Pagani, an Argentinian emigré and former Lamborghini employee, first announced himself as a force to be reckoned with. If the name Pagani Zonda sounded positively operatic, the car that wore the badge was a next-level product of Modena’s celebrated motor valley. The man, meanwhile, made no secret of his love for Italy’s Renaissance artist and sculptors, talked up his admiration of Da Vinci.
Now we have the Utopia, a hypercar that’s part Marvel villain’s steampunk conveyance, part Fabergé egg. Only 99 will be made, they cost £2.2m each, and such is Pagani’s relationship with its client base that they were all spoken for before he’d even finalised the car’s design. Horacio doesn’t follow trends or pay any heed to what else is going on; the man and his cars exist in their own universe.
It’s a wildly flamboyant looking car, restlessly curvy and eye-popping in detail. The chassis is made of carbo-titanium and carbo-triax, lightweight sci-fi-sounding materials developed by Pagani that give the car incredible structural rigidity. High end watchmaking informs the interior, which contains a myriad components machined from billets of solid aluminium and lots of tactile switchgear and touchpoints. Including the steering wheel, which started life as a 47kg chunk but now weighs just 1.7kg.
Then there’s the 6.0-litre, twin-turbo V12, sourced from AMG and sitting behind the occupants. It’s harnessed to a manual gearbox, further emphasising Pagani’s commitment to the physical. With a power output of 862bhp and a kerb weight of 1340kg, the Utopia is monumentally fast. But more than any comparable car, this one is just as delectable doing precisely zero mph.
Mercedes G580 with EQ technology
The G Wagen is the great survivor. The more things change, the more they stay the same. On the exterior at least, where Mercedes’s off-roader looks as monolithic as ever. But the G580 with EQ technology, as it’s known, is fully electric, its new heart betrayed only by a smoother bonnet, revised A pillars, and discreet roof spoiler. Instead of a spare wheel, the compartment on the rear door can carry a charging cable. The G580 has four electric motors, one on each wheel and driven by its own two-speed gearbox, to deliver 579bhp and 859lb ft of torque. Mercedes says the electric G wagen actually surpasses the combustion version off-road, with its ability to handle 35° side slopes and wade in up to 850mm of water. Needless to say, all the electric components are fully sealed. It also has some neat party tricks: it can perform a G turn which allows it to rotate 720° on the spot, there’s a clever rock crawling function, and a transparent bonnet function uses the forward facing cameras to scan the terrain ahead to project an image onto the central infotainment screen. A massive 116kWh battery gives a claimed range of 292 miles, but Mercedes is already hard at work on a new, more energy dense battery that promises to substantially boost the range. It needn’t worry. Almost every G-Wagen on the planet is an urban warrior.
Rolls-Royce Arcadia
The third of four Droptails to, er, drop, the Arcadia is also the prettiest so far. And the most serene, even for a company that specialises in cars that seal the occupants off so spectacularly from the real world. Arcadia is a location in Greek mythology that represents heaven on earth. At £20m, this is the world’s most expensive new car, and it’s garlanded with a number of absurdly grand numerical stats – like the fact 8000 hours were spent crafting the various pieces of wood (called Santos Straight Grain) in the cabin and on the rear deck. The exterior paint is a solid white infused with aluminium and glass particles to create a fathomless sense of depth. The owner lives in Singapore but the Arcadia Droptail is intended for international use. Look out for it.
Rivian R2/3
“One reason start-ups are so effective, particularly early stage startups, is the ability to rapidly iterate on an idea,” says Rivian CEO, RJ Scaringe. “When I started Rivian, if I was dead set on what the strategy was and wasn’t able to pivot or change or evolve, it would have been impossible to be successful.”
Well Rivian has just iterated some more. Ford and Amazon are two of the big-ticket investors who’ve made this buzzy EV company too big to fail, and it’s just added the R2 SUV and surprised investors and its fanbase with the smaller R3. “Keep the world adventurous forever” is Rivian’s mantra, so the R2 can do all that rugged, outdoorsy stuff. But we like the R3 even more, a hatch/crossover mash-up that seduces reluctant petrolheads by channelling the Lancia Delta Integrale and original VW Golf. Its retro-modern look was overseen by former Jeep design VP, Jeff Hammoud. “It has the soul of a rally car,” adds Scaringe. With a former Lotus and McLaren guy in charge of the engineering, maybe they’ll make good on that.
Skoda Enyaq 85x
For an odyssey that will take us to the edge of the Sahara, forget the Toyota Landcruiser or Morocco’s car of choice, the Dacia Duster, we’re using the latest Skoda Enyaq. Our dual-motor 85x now has 282bhp and improved thermal management has increased range to around 350 miles. GQ saw an indicated 5.1 miles per kWh, the best figure we’ve ever managed in an EV, helped by warm temperatures and a long downhill stretches on a route south of the Atlas Mountains. The climb up the Tizi n’Tichka on the way back to Marrakesh was less energy efficient but more fun. Fearless adventuring, but nothing compared to Dutch duo Renske Cox and Maarten van Pel, who chose an Enyaq to drive from the Netherlands to South Africa and back. On alternate days, they rolled out a mat of solar panels hooked up to the car to recharge, and lived in a roof-box tent.
Mini Countryman Electric
The Mini Countryman electric is almost the same size as the original Range Rover. It’s also available with a combustion engine but we reckon the dual motor electric version is the best bet. It’s 340kg heavier but with 309bhp it’s also more powerful. And it really suits the Countryman’s overall vibe. With a 65 kWh battery, the dual motor car has a claimed range of 287 miles and can go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent on a 130 kW charger in 30 minutes. This gives you time to appreciate the Countryman’s interior. A large, multi-configurable central OLED touchscreen display dominates, but there’s a neat row of physical buttons beneath. The gently curving dash and doors are covered in a knitted textile two-tone surface that’s made entirely of recycled polyester. There’s voice activation, eight different drive modes that alter the car’s dynamics and character, and AI learns your driving habits.
Aston Martin Vantage
Against the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche, Aston Martin has had little option but to play up the plucky underdog schtick. But the boss, Lawrence Stroll, is a resoundingly alpha kinda guy, and the product portfolio is beginning to look that way too. Having reconfigured the DB12 into a super GT, now the smaller, sportier and supposedly more affordable Vantage has turned up the heat. Its stockier stance and bigger grille don’t do justice to the changes beneath. The Merc-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre V8 gains hotter turbos, new cams and improved cooling to see its power output rise to 656bhp. That’s more than the previous Vantage V12 made, underlining the shift in priorities here. There’s new adaptive suspension, bespoke Michelin tyres, and a dynamics ‘controller’ that puts the Vantage level with Ferrari and Lamborghini in terms of reaction times and sensation (ie: fast and lots of).
Audi RS6 GT
Audi’s transition to full electrification is well under way, and the e-tron GT is proof high performance is not under threat for the lack of combustion. But this limited series RS6 suggests that at least some of Audi Sport’s engineers want to see out the old era in the style with which we’ve become accustomed. Since the RS2 arrived 30 years ago, fast Audi estates have become a distinct subculture, but the RS6 GT is on another level. Trailed by 2020’s GTO concept, which in turn took inspiration from the wild 1989 IMSA 90 quattro race car, the GT arrives in a limited edition of 660 cars worldwide, 60 of which are coming to the UK. Eye-popping livery aside, this is the first Audi to use carbon fibre for the bonnet and wings, as well as on its wheels. Aero tweaks run to a double rear wing, a bigger diffuser, and angrier front splitter. The engine is the same 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 as the ‘regular’ RS6, which is good for 621bhp. But the suspension and rear diff have been reconfigured to sharpen handling. Even at £180k, they’ll all be gone by the time you read this.
Porsche Macan
This is Porsche’s second pure-electric car, following the magnificent Taycan, and comes in two guises: the 402bhp Macan 4 (£69,800) and the 630bhp Turbo (£95,000). The 95kWh battery uses an 800-volt architecture so it can charge more efficiently for a claimed range of 381 miles (367 for the Turbo), and there are dual motors and all-wheel drive. Such is the vast developmental cost of an all-new EV, the Macan shares its underpinnings with the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron). The Macan is taller, wider and longer than the outgoing car, and channels the Taycan for visual inspiration – witness the quad headlights, full-width rear light bar and tight surfaces. Inside, the infotainment runs an Android Automotive operating system, with ‘Hey Porsche’ voice assistant and a Porsche App Centre. But a Porsche is a Porsche and this one’s new software electronics are apparently five times faster than the existing Macan’s. Still need that old-school engine?
Honda 0 series
The 0 – for zero – represents a big reset for Honda. Slow to embrace full electrification, the Japanese giant is aiming to make up for lost time as it sinks £30bn into a vast range of new electric vehicles (30 models by 2030). The primly named Saloon and wackier Space-Hub are tasters for what’s coming, and we’re fully on-board assuming they stick to this path. Batteries are heavy things but Honda insists the captivatingly mono-volume Saloon is designed to be “thin, light and wise”. The real thing, due to land in 2026, will pulse with all the latest advanced driving assistance systems, including level three automation, while Honda’s expertise in robotics plays out in posture control and a motion management system. AI will tailor the user’s preferences, enable the car to become ‘one with the driver’, and also venture suggestions. Here’s ours: include a giant ‘off’ button for all that stuff. Because if the 0 ends up being anything like as good to look at and drive as this concept suggests, we really would prefer to be left alone to enjoy it. The Space-Hub, meanwhile, maxxes out on the interior possibilities and the rising pre-eminence of the ‘internet of things’. No off button needed here.
Cupra Dark Rebel
Cupra is the upstart performance brand that has out-played its Seat parent, and become one of the star performers within the VW mega-corps. The Dark Rebel is a concept that posits an all-electric coupe, notable for its ‘shooting brake’ silhouette and details like the ‘hidden until lit’ head- and tail-lights. Design director Jorge Diez confirmed that these are tricky to do but could be production feasible. Cupra is a hit with Gen Y for whom legacy is less of a deal-breaker, and the steering wheel and display screens take inspiration from the gaming world. We’re less certain that the Dark Rebel’s heavily raked rear end and complex diffuser will survive into production, but we’re not complaining. The design team used input from a ‘Hyper Configurator’ to determine the car’s liquid mercury colour scheme, amongst other elements, gathering data from 270,000 contributors. Crowd-sourced goodness.
Lotus Emira i4
If the electric Eletre crossover is the wildly off-piste machine Lotus needs to survive, the Emira is the two-seater, mid-engined sports car that needs no introduction, right? This is Lotus at its zenith. Impressive amounts of re-engineering has gone in to make the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine fit, including an i4-specific aluminium subframe, although it’s detuned here compared to the AMG A45 that uses the same engine (360bhp v 415). The turbo whistles and whooshes and the i4 generally gets noisier as you close in on the red-line, imbuing this Emira with a personality that’s markedly different from the V6. Fast too: 171mph top speed, 0-62mph in 4.4, with urgency throughout. Even in a sector that contains the brilliant Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman, the Emira covers ground in a poised and vastly entertaining way. It’s also the best looking sports car this side of the Ferrari 296 GTB, so even at the First Edition’s punchy £81k, it delivers value for money. It will also be the last Lotus sports car to use a combustion engine.
Mercedes AMG SL 63 S E
We like the SL, one of Mercedes’ signature models and a byword for a timeless automotive glamour. Some say it’s the equivalent of Coco Chanel’s little black dress, while Richard Gere teamed his Armani suit with an SL to devastating effect in '80s American Gigolo. You never have to try too hard in one of these, A-lister or not. Which hasn’t stopped Mercedes from throwing pretty much everything at the latest SL 63 E Performance. The unwieldy name hides plug-in hybrid technology designed to double down on the current SL’s more aggressively sporting remit. Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 603bhp on its own, further boosted by the addition of a rear-mounted electric motor for a combined output of 804bhp. More eye-popping still is the 1047lb ft of torque, so this thing is going to kick like an especially angry mule. It starts silently in e-mode, though, and can travel a further eight miles in that fashion, but really this is more about performance than efficiency. There are no less than eight different drive modes, governing the SL’s throttle response, gearshift speed, and chassis. Multiple personalities, then, but there’s only ever one Mercedes SL.
Aston Martin DB12
In its quest to become Britain’s answer to Ferrari, Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ now contains a number of clever people persuaded by majority shareholder Lawrence Stroll to swap Maranello for the Midlands. GQ has known CEO Amedeo Felisa and chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli for years, and between them these guys have some of Ferrari’s greatest hits in their back catalogue. So it’s no surprise that the DB12 is so accomplished and so much more than a mere facelift of the lovely looking but dynamically sketchy DB11. Everything has been overhauled, including the Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8. That now makes 671bhp, enough to back up Aston’s claim that this is a ‘super tourer’, staking out the territory between GT and supercar currently patrolled by the likes of Bentley’s Continental GT and Porsche’s 911 Turbo – fearsome rivals, both. Yet the DB12 matches them not just in terms of pace – which is considerable, hitting 62mph in 3.6 seconds, and 202mph all-out – but more importantly in how well tied down it is, in whichever of its three drive modes is selected. You’d find yourself wrestling the old car a lot of the time, but this one is less… intimidating, much of which is due to the presence of a clever Ferrari-like ‘e-diff’. It also looks magnificent, inside and out, the interior now featuring Aston’s first-ever touchscreen. It works well, although some of the typefaces, though pretty, are too small. The gearlever is a useful toggle switch, sited in the middle of a centre console that slopes down. Everything you touch feels beautifully made, too. Could this be the best Aston Martin ever? Yes, it could… (from £185,055)
Callum Skye
Ian Callum is one of the world’s great automotive designers, responsible for Aston Martin’s bacon-saving DB7 and Vanquish, and countless gems during a 20-year tenure as design director at Jaguar. Fans of the man have been pining for more and here it is: the Callum Skye, a fabulous looking high performance multi-terrain electric vehicle, powered by a 42 kWh battery pack, with an e-motor on each axle. Callum is aiming for a range of around 170 miles for the Skye, while a chassis that mixes steel and carbon fibre keeps the weight down to around 1100kg. That equates to an extremely useful power-to-weight ratio, a far more relevant metric than horsepower alone. As mainstream electric cars become effectively big smartphones on wheels and car-makers get ever deeper into software, the niche in the market for hedonistic but sustainable recreational cars like the Skye is set to blossom. This is a light, agile answer to the question you didn’t know you were about to ask.
Toyota Land Cruiser
In the Australian Outback or on the African plains, the locals don’t drive Land Rovers, they use Toyota Land Cruisers. Split across ‘heavy duty’, ‘station wagon’ and ‘light duty’ formats, 11.3 million have been sold in 170 territories worldwide since the model line arrived in 1951. It’s unlikely a single one ever suffered a break down, which is what counts if you’re trying to out-run a lion. Or vengeful war-lord. The J250 you see here is the fifth generation in the ‘light duty’ blood-line, and its retro-leaning design calls to mind the 70 series and GQ’s favourite Land Cruiser, the perpetually if unexpectedly fashionable Eighties 60 series. Thrillingly and unrepentantly boxy by design, highlights include the adoption of a new chassis – though still body-on-frame for maximum off-road utility – which is 30 per cent stiffer overall than before. There’s new electric steering and an electronically disconnecting front anti-roll bar, and an automatic terrain sensing system. If this all sounds suspiciously hi-tech for a Land Cruiser, the new model will land in Europe powered by a 2.8-litre diesel engine. A hybrid will follow, but that won’t be as good come the zombie apocalypse.
Genesis G90
Squid Game. Bong Joon-Ho. BLACKPINK. South Korea’s exports show no sign of ending. In automotive, too, where Kia and Hyundai are both doing great things, top of the pile sits luxury brand Genesis, and at the summit of that is the G90 saloon. Buy the 5.4m-long version and you even gain admission to the Genesis Lounge in Seoul’s Shilla Hotel. The G90 is coming to Europe, though not yet the UK, and as a statement of intent it’s a fascinating rival for big players like the Audi A8, BMW 7 series and the Mercedes S-class. Genesis goes big on technology and what it calls ‘son-min’ which means ‘honoured guest’. It’s also sufficiently different in design and execution to earn our full attention, its captivating exterior the work of South Korean superstar, Sangyup Lee. The bonnet, for example, is a single-piece clamshell, the twin-row LED headlights delivering a distinctive day- and night-time signature. Inside, Genesis has achieved an ambience and level of quality that matches Bentley. It’s not as accomplished dynamically, but if you’ve got one of these you’ve also most likely also got someone on the payroll in the driver’s seat.
BMW i5 M60
The 5 series is a heartland car for BMW, to the tune of 10m sold across seven generations since its arrival in 1972. The stakes are kinda high, not least as this eighth-gen car is the one that’s going fully electric. The i5’s design is handsomely understated to the point of looking rather generic from some angles, but get the colour and spec combination right and there’s a modernism that’s in keeping with the fantastic technology that underpins it. Its interior is better still: the 14.9in Curved Glass display is the best touchscreen in the automotive world, both to look at and to use, and the 5 series also gains a clever illuminated Interaction Bar and seamless air vents. The dual motor M60 xDrive is the one to go for, at least until the new hybridised M5 rocks up next year. It uses an 81.2kWh battery pack that can be charged at up to 205kW, to whoosh it up to 80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes (assuming the charging point is working and the batteries are nicely pre-conditioned). The M60’s motors are good for almost 600bhp, and adaptive damping and active anti-roll bars ensure amazing agility on the move. There’s also a load of driver assistance systems, including one that offers hands-off semi-autonomous functionality that uses eye activation to trigger overtakes. Sounds cool, but it’s annoying in reality. The rest of the i5 is brilliant, though, if expensive. The M60 costs £96,840.
Zenvo Aurora
There is no mainstream Danish car industry, and the Danes are not renowned for their love of extrovert hypercars. All of which makes Zenvo a fascinating outlier, doggedly pursuing its high performance ambitions for more than a decade. Now here comes the new Aurora, available in road-oriented Tur or track-focused Agil form. There’s an all-new chassis and 6.6-litre quad-turbo V12 engine, developed by specialist Mahle, and good for up to 1,850bhp with the aid of three e-motors. “The Aurora project is best described as an equilibrium of extremes,” Zenvo boss Jens Sverdup says with some Scandinavian understatement. Christian Brandt has done an astute job on the car’s design, citing the Danish love of simplicity as an inspiration. ‘We wanted to showcase as much of the chassis, engine and suspension as we could,’ he says.
