If there’s one thing you can say about automaker product planning, it’s certainly that it’s relentless. Every new year brings dozens of new, redesigned, or refreshed models for consumers to gawk at, spend their hard-earned money on, and even turn their noses up at. Hey, not everything’s a hit. Unsurprisingly, 2024 will bring a new round of new cars, and some of them are very much worth getting excited about.
Admittedly, the next few years are going to be weird for car enthusiasts. The performance car pipeline, the future of the economy car in America, and the relentless assault of expensive vehicles doesn’t seem great. However, amid a sea of inoffensive crossovers, a few cars seem primed to shine, or at least attempt to shine, in 2024.
Three of my top picks for predicted debuts include a transformed muscle car, a Bavarian bruiser, and something from a brand with a Yugo-tier reputation. It’s nothing if not an eclectic mix, so let’s dive into it.
2025 Dodge Charger
Lots is still unknown about the next Dodge Charger, but everything looks good so far. We know it will be a liftback coupe, we’ve seen solid indication that the Hurricane turbocharged inline-six is on the table along with electric power, we know that the car will be built on the new STLA Large platform which may be an evolution of Alfa Romeo’s Giorgio platform. As Forbes previous reported:
In the round table with Italian journalists, Imparato was quick insist the Giorgio platform wouldn’t be abandoned. It would instead be integrated into Stellantis’s four-platform architecture system, albeit in a heavily modified form, in an admission that it struggled with anything more than mid-sized cars.
Whatever happens, the fundamentals beneath the next Charger seem poised to transform America’s chest-beating muscle sedan into a European-like grand tourer that should feature a relatively consumer-friendly starting price. Yeah, that’s something worth getting excited about in 2024.
BMW M5 Touring
Come to think of it, that’s a great segue into an absolute bruiser from the continent. Following the death of the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and with the Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon facing an uncertain future, the BMW M5 Touring could be the uberwagon’s knight in shining armor. It’s a BMW 5 Series Touring with biblical output, and it may be coming to America. My sources suggest it’ll get a pumped-up version of the BMW XM’s plug-in hybrid powertrain, which means a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 will get electrical assistance for some truly astonishing performance. Expect to see it unwrapped in 2024.
VinFast VF3
The year 2023 ushered in a new candidate for hardest job in the world, and that’s trying to sell Americans VinFast EVs. The Vietnamese brand’s two-row VF8 City Edition crossover fell on its face during the press launch, actually breaking during our first drive of it. That sort of thing leaves a bad impression on American consumers, and it makes you wonder how VinFast can stage a comeback. Well, maybe the VF3 will do it. This little electric runabout is coming to the Consumer Electronics Show later this month, and possibly to American showrooms in the near future. Sure, it may only be 10.2 feet long and come from a brand people haven’t heard very good things about, but it should be cheap. Last year, CarScoops reported that VinFast advisor Duke Hale claimed the VF3 would be “probably sub-$20,000.” In this climate, any car with that sort of pricing is worth looking forward to.
So, what cars are you looking forward to in 2024? Maybe you’re excited to try out the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, or eagerly awaiting the Porsche Macan EV, or are awestruck by the awesomeness of the Ford Mustang GTD. Whatever incoming car is on your mind, we want to hear about it.
(Photo credits: Dodge, BMW, VinFast)
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I’m just enjoying the idea that EV Charger buyers will likely need to install an electric charger to charge their Electric Charger.
Honestly, almost everything is pretty interesting. We’re a big transition period in the industry. New electric vehicles form every manufacturer, Chrysler replaced the V8 in most of their offerings, the small cheap car is seeing a revival but in small truck and crossover form and everything is getting significantly larger. No manufacturer really stands out and I’m not sure where this is all heading. It’s pretty exciting to me because this feels like a pressure cooker getting ready to pop.
I’m looking forward for other EV manufacturers to have the NACS charging plug.
“ If there’s one thing you can say about automaker product planning, it’s certainly that it’s relentless.”
“It’s what-what now?” – Guy who owns twitter.com
Can the VF have an ICE swapped in and be take offroad? I love its proportions.
Subaru Impreza WRX Hatch with 6MT.
There’s all of 2024 for this dream to be possible.
FAST TAYCAN! FAST TAYCAN! FAST TAYCAN!
Bless us, each and every one, for a parsh has retaken the throne of “fastest electric sedan around the Nürburgring.” (And by two seconds off of the Nevera’s time, no less.) I haven’t wanted to hoon something this hard since at least the 911 Dakar.
(I still really want to hoon a 911 Dakar, though.)
I’m looking forward to the new 4runner interested to see how toyota can make it more capable and looking forward to a powertrain that gets more than 20 mpg and finally ditches that ancient 5 speed auto. and i’m hopeful we get an affirmative on the GR prius being made.
I’m also hopeful the civic hybrid hatch will finally make it over to the us and it will be interesting to see how they compare. Also new generation of camry launching means we might get a flood of the current gen camrys hitting the used market!
Now that we will soon have a retro Charger, we can finally have that Bullitt reboot we have all been hoping for but not talking about. We can even have a New Beetle get passed at least four times, like in the original.
Now that we finally have the cars cast, ideas on actors?
EV Macan. The Taycan was excellent when it came out but EV tech is moving so fast I want to know what Porsche can offer now. Early previews are promising.
None of them. Between all the current turbo/hybrid/ultra-emissions vehicles and EV’s, there’s really not a single car on the market now that I would actually buy. I’m just here for the old cars.
Same. I made it as far as the mid 2000s and that was when I fell behind.
Same. Plus, I just found out about the revised CO2 malus in France. A new Megan RS will cost 48k€ in eco taxes on top of purchase, pushing a hot hatch in the 6 figure price range. I was out of the new car game before because I wanted to save up for a house, now it seems like I’m out of the market for good because I’ll never be able to afford a new fun car.
Both Genesis and Polestar keep teasing 2-doors, and I’d absolutely love to see either one of those become real.
I’d swoon if Alpha proves to actually be a real company with actual tangible cars, but I think I’ve got a better chance of meeting the Easter bunny.
“So, what cars are you looking forward to in 2024?”
Everything made < 2019 and heavily depreciated.
I am waiting for the long rumored Toyota Sprout, or is it the Stout hybrid truck with great patience. Since it will probably be my final long term vehicle I am willing to pay the “Toyota tax” provided it’s reasonable.
The Charger looks interesting. Time will tell if it’s worth the gamble of ownership though.
But my wish would be for some real de-contented new cars to be offered for those of us not willing or able to do a 96 month note at 1,200 per month, plus interest. They don’t even have to be a new model, just produce a stripper level of what already exists.
Lastly it would be nice if the US auto makers would actually produce more models here. I realize the Unions are an issue, but there are a lot of reasons and incentives to build here vs over the border.
I wonder how much longer before Mexico workers starts unionizing but i could also see the mexican government/cartels’ shooting people who try and strike.
I entered this article firmly ready to shout “2025 swansong CT4-V Blackwing in Bring Back Orange, You Cowards(TM)” but I literally stopped scrolling when I hit “M5 Touring.” I need some time to think things through, okay, it’s just all changing so fast
For real though the bilious yellow-green on the MY2024 Blackwings is no bueno.
I love the yellow blackwing!
Hmmm. I’m all for yellow, I just saw one at Road Atlanta and it’s in a sort of queasy space between yellow and green. Then again, I’m slightly colorblind, so maybe it’s better balanced than I can really see.
You know what though? I’d rather have that yellow than another silver car on the road. Long live the bright colors!
I’m not judging anyone for buying a silver car. silver cars are pretty but automakers/dealers selling almost exclusively grey/silver/white cars should be shamed! I am hoping Tesla’s plan of selling their cars wrapped catch on because than everyone can have the car in whatever color they want!
I’m looking forward to the Cybertruck and the Tesla Semi becoming available in greater numbers mainly because I’m a Tesla shareholder but also I’m looking forward to the positive emissions and pollution impact electric trucks will have.
Just this morning on the highway, I was behind a diesel box truck where the engine was on its last legs as it was smoking a lot more than usual and it looked/smelled like it was burning a good amount of lubrication oil along with diesel.
On the subject of Stellantis and their upcoming BEVs… I personally think they shouldn’t bother with bringing the electric Fiat 500 to Canada or the USA. I’ve already read the specs on it and I expect it to flop just as badly as all other recent Fiat-branded products here have.
Instead what they should be doing is bringing back the Chrysler PT Cruiser in electric form and have that as a smaller car option. And maybe make a sportier version for Dodge and call it the Shadow or Omni
Make it about the same size as the original, market it as a CUV, give it standard RWD and at least a 250 mile in base form with AWD and more range as an option and they’ll have a winner on their hands.
I want a MazdaSpeed MX-5!
That is what I want. Not that that’s what you asked, but that’s my answer.
This is the correct answer. If they truly are going electric for the next generation, they’ve got to send this one off in style. All you’d need is a borderline microscopic turbo, slightly less body roll, and a spoiler. Voila!
Indeed! Heck, I could even live without the spoiler. Just give me the turbo and the suspension please.
bring back Mazdaspeed you cowards
All they had to do is make the Mazda3 turbo awd available with a stick and slap a badge on it!!! You’re killing us, Mazda!!
SERIOUSLY
2024 Toyota LC base model (only exciting toyota that I can remember)
2024 Ranger Raptor (BTW – I’m sure a PHEV Ranger is coming, just not in 2024)
Volkswagen Bus (if someone figures out a range extender)
I’m just excited the Hemi’s replacement is going to debut in more vehicles here shortly.
It should’ve been updated before 2020 ever came around. But it never really did. Sure, 2022 Hemi’s got an update…. to some 1’s and 0’s so that the engines wouldn’t throw CEL’s for using 0W-20, but it really needed an actual update or replacement.
And kinda the Charger. I’m not a fan of coupe’s the size of large SUV’s, but it’s something new for Dodge.
Charger Daytona is indeed a good one. Also more Cybertruck. And hopefully US launch of Fiat 500e Abarth. All three are vehicles I would seriously consider if I were in the market (my EV is only 5 years old and I’ve got 2 old cars, and wife just got a new EV this year)
Nothing coming in the near term that interests me, but I’m hoping for a long-term revival of smaller/cheaper vehicles in reaction to high prices and interest rates.