Get excited. Because if you like cool cars and trucks, the next 18 months are going to be a good time to be alive.
Below is a list of cars that make us remember why we got into this
business. These are cars and trucks that show promise in their
respective segments. Some — like Jaguar's XS sedan — are all-new. And
some — like the Ford F-150 — are mainstays that show promise in concept
form. Others (like just about everything from GM on this list) deserve
acknowledgement for either risk-taking or simple segment leadership.
In no particular order, then, we present 17 groundbreaking,
silly-fast or simply cool machines hitting the market in or around 2015.
Acura NSX
Though it will likely be a 2016 model, Acura's NSX will go on sale in
2015 and that's good enough for us. Acura promises that the NSX will be a
dynamic demon in spite of its hybrid powertrain. That shouldn't be a
problem, as it will combine a twin-turbo V6 with three additional
electric motors, two of which will drive the front wheels individually.
It should fill the original's shoes in spirit if not in execution.
2015 Audi S3 Sedan
With nearly 300 hp, Quattro all-wheel drive and a six-speed
transmission, the S3 is the small sporty sedan most of us here would
choose. Its perfect balance of performance, comfort and technology
acknowledges that not everyone wants their driving machine to be
one-dimensional.
2015 Cadillac ATS-V
Don't mess with Cadillac. Because it plans to jam the 420-hp V6 from its
CTS Vsport sedan into the compact ATS in order to make the smaller
sedan a genuine V model. This is serious business. The ATS is small and
light, so it will haul ass with this much power. And that's really,
really cool.
2015 Cadillac Escalade
It's all about the interior with the 2015 Cadillac Escalade. Stitched,
perforated leather and real wood trim take center stage in an upgrade
that significantly departs from the Suburban-Yukon twins on which it's
based. Expect 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque from the Escalade's
6.2-liter direct-injected V8. Two- or four-wheel-drive models will be
available.
2015 Chevrolet Colorado
The combination of a stagnant midsize segment and the fact that many
truck buyers want to buy domestic leaves Chevy in a position to strike
while the iron is hot with its all-new Colorado. This truck's good
looks, three powertrain options (including a turbodiesel for 2016) and
three body configurations won't hurt, either. If there was ever a sure
thing in truck sales, this appears to be it.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Very little is known about the first performance model based on the C7
platform. Even its name remains unconfirmed. What we know for sure is
that the car will be shown at the Detroit auto show in January 2014,
which means it will likely go on sale later in the year as a 2015 model.
Expect all the C7's goodness to carry over into a car that actually
fills its fenders with huge rubber and big brakes. We think it will be
powered by a normally aspirated direct-injected V8 displacing more than
6.2 liters and generating between 530 and 570 horsepower.
2015 Ford F-150
New styling, a broad range of engine options and better fuel economy
should help the 2015 F-150 retain its position as America's best-selling
truck. When it comes to trucks there's a fine line between
groundbreaking and bank breaking, and Ford appears to be walking that
line carefully with the new F-150. Expect a truck that's better in every
way. Don't expect one that's new in every way.
2015 Ford Mustang
Fully redesigned for 2015, all Mustang styles will get independent rear
suspension. The big news, however, is the likely addition of a 2.3-liter
EcoBoost four-cylinder to the lineup, possibly to replace the V6. The
5.0 V8 will, of course, remain the iconic engine of the brand.
2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan
All-wheel drive will be an option for this popular sedan when it hits
showrooms next year as a 2015 model. Otherwise, the news is mostly about
styling, which is striking and makes the previous-generation Genesis
sedan look conservative by comparison. Both the 3.8-liter V6 and the
5.0-liter V8 will remain — at least in the first year.
2015 Jaguar XS Sedan
Though it's unclear exactly when this car will be unveiled, it's certain
that Jaguar intends to go toe to toe with the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.
Expect a rear-drive-based powertrain with at least two engine options: a
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6.
Both engines will almost certainly be backed by a ZF eight-speed
automatic transmission.
2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe
Jaguar's F-Type convertible is a strikingly beautiful car. And it only
gets better with a hardtop. Base supercharged V6 engines will retain
340- and 380-hp ratings, while the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 bumps from
495 to roughly 550 hp in the F-Type R Coupe. ZF's eight-speed automatic
is still paired with every engine. Expect to see the coupe at dealers in
the spring of 2014.
2015 Lexus RC Coupe
This is what's called a no-brainer in the car industry. Lexus shaves two
doors and the roof line off the IS 350 sedan and calls it the RC 350
Coupe for 2015. Expect power to come initially from the IS 350's
3.5-liter 306-hp V6 followed by a 2.0-liter turbo-4. A 450-plus hp V8
will come later, allowing the RC Coupe to go head to head with BMW's M4.
2015 Lincoln MKC
There are piles of money to be made in the compact luxury crossover
segment. Ask BMW. Or Mercedes. And that's exactly what Lincoln would
like to do with the Ford Escape-based MKC. Because its fundamentals are
already in place, Lincoln will have to rely on striking styling, an
outstanding interior and flexible chassis tuning to make the MKC a hit.
But it's been done before. A 2.0-liter EcoBoost four coupled to a
six-speed automatic is the most likely powertrain. All-wheel drive will
be optional.
2015 Mercedes-Benz C-ClassWith
the wildly popular CLA-Class taking the C-Class' spot as entry-level
Benz, the priorities have changed for Benz's breadwinner. First, it's
getting bigger. Five inches will be added to the C-Class' total length,
which will noticeably increase rear-seat legroom. A new 2.0-liter
turbocharged four will be the base engine, while a 2.1-liter diesel
remains a very real possibility as the upgrade engine. An eight-speed
automatic will be the go-to transmission and all-wheel drive will be
optional.
2015 Nissan Titan
Expect the 2015 Nissan Titan to come out swinging, because it needs to.
This truck has, since its introduction, been an also-ran. Unlike Ford,
which can rely on a solid reputation for building serious trucks, Nissan
has an image to build. And the first-generation Titan didn't get the
job done. Expect a new V6 to join the once-standard V8 along with an
all-new 5.0-liter Cummins diesel V8 engine. That kind of powertrain
portfolio might get truck buyers talking. And that's exactly what Titan
needs.
2015 Subaru WRX
Subaru's new WRX is stiffer, lower, longer (in wheelbase) and more
powerful than the car it replaces. It comes standard with a six-speed
manual transmission, and a performance-tuned CVT (no, seriously) is
optional. Though its styling is far more conservative than that of the
concept shown earlier this year, a new WRX is always a good thing.
Expect the STI to follow shortly.
2015 Tesla Model X
Tesla's Model X will (according to Tesla) go on sale in 2014. All-wheel
drive will be optional and Tesla claims it will enable sub-5.0-second
0-60 times. After our experience with the Model S, we expect the Model X
to be more of the same: groundbreaking, innovative, fraught with
technology and remarkably refined. Also, it's an SUV with really cool
doors. Like the Model S it will be available with either a 60 or 85 kWh
battery.